Alex's success story: Securing a training contract at Hill Dickinson

Alex is a Politics graduate from the University of Warwick. He secured a Trainee Solicitor role at Hill Dickinson in London.  

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“I started my career in the charity sector and was motivated by helping young people of all backgrounds to overcome difficult systemic and structural barriers that were preventing them from achieving their potential.

I heard a lot from people at Hill Dickinson that they felt their work had a purpose and positive impact which drew me to the work in the healthcare sector, particularly as my family also worked in the NHS. I knew I wanted a career with a public service element.”

What was the application process like?

“Firstly, there was the written application and online tests which gave plenty of opportunity to showcase your knowledge of the firm, the work and how you would fit in.

Following this was the assessment centre. Everyone was very friendly and from so many different backgrounds; it felt genuinely supportive and that everyone wanted you to do your best. The early careers team were really friendly and did a great job of making everyone feel at ease.

If you applied for it, there was also an insight day where we learnt more about the firm and got a chance to speak with staff, which helped to give a sense of the firm, its culture and work environment ahead of the final interview. I really appreciated that the day was remunerated as it showed Hill Dickinson’s commitment to accessibility.

Lastly, the final interview involved a presentation followed by questions. The presentation part was a good chance to bring your own ideas and creativity to the table and showcase yourself better than you would purely by answering questions. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the process, how great the people were and how much you can get to know a firm in a relatively short period of time.”

What are you most proud of about your journey?

"Pursuing a career in law several years after graduating can be challenging as it’s daunting to make such a big decision about your life and career.

I wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as a risk-taker and am definitely more a creature of habit, so I was proud that I stuck with it.

Every job I did helped me figure out what I wanted to do and helped me get there, so as cheesy as it sounds, things happen for a reason and I’ve learnt a lot from the unconventional journey I’ve taken.”

What have you learnt from going through the process?

“Throughout the process, I’ve learnt a lot more about how law firms operate, the day-to-day work of solicitors and about Hill Dickinson as a firm.

There was a lot I wish I had known before starting out that I had to learn during the application process, but I think you learn by doing, so preparing for interviews was helpful in developing my commercial awareness and understanding of the legal sector. To do this, I found it helpful to have a few case study examples and awareness of issues affecting particular sectors and law firms that I could refer to.

The process is always going to be a challenge so you definitely need to prepare as best you can and take everything as an opportunity to learn.”

What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?

“One of the most important factors is that you fit in with the firm’s culture and share the values. I’d recommend attending as many events as you can to get to know the firm along with doing your own research on the firm’s initiatives.

Commercial awareness is extremely important, so I’d recommend learning about the firm’s clients, the sectors it operates in and the firm itself. You can read the firm’s accounts on Companies House to get a sense of the firm’s strategic priorities and the organisation more widely.

If there’s anything I’d change it would be attending more events and networking more; it gives you insider info, a lot more to talk about and shows your commitment.”

Tell us about the future. What’s next?

“The seat options are very interesting and varied so I’m looking forward to gaining experience in different practice areas and utilising the practical skills from my previous roles and conversion course.

The people element is also exciting. Speaking to staff, there were a lot of opportunities to be active in charity work and other activities, as well as building relationships with clients and meeting other trainees.”