My background
My name is Salwa Ali. I live in Birmingham and also studied my Law degree in the city too. During my final year of university, I was offered a training contract with Gowling WLG after a successful Spring vacation scheme. I completed the LPC in July 2023 and then started my training contract in August.
What attracted you to working for Gowling WLG?
The main attraction to Gowling WLG was the high quality of work that I'd be able to be involved in. Birmingham is a growing at speed, and I like that I'm able to work for a large international firm that also works with local clients. It means I'm able to see the impact that Gowling has had on the city I grew up in.
During the vacation scheme, I was also really impressed by the culture at the firm. Everyone is really supportive and friendly at Gowling; no one ever makes you feel silly for asking too many questions!
What do you wish you'd known on your first day?
I wish I'd known that its completely okay to not have a clue what is going on. No one is expecting you to come in and know everything straight away. It's about giving everything a go. If you don't know something, admit it, but still have a go at taking an educated guess on how to proceed. I also wish I knew how much support there'd be, and that you aren't expected to figure out everything alone. There's so much to learn and you'll only learn by asking!
What advice would you give for the application process?
My best piece of advice would be to show your personality as much as possible. I know the feeling of stress as soon as you begin a video interview, or enter an assessment centre but being able to be yourself and letting your personality show is so important. The firm isn't looking for someone who is the completed product (otherwise you'd already be a qualified solicitor!), rather, they look for who has potential to succeed, and who will fit in with the team at Gowling. Speak about your passions, make sure you can confidently explain why you want to pursue commercial law, and try to enjoy the process!