Why I chose to qualify into Tax and Reward
Tax was my favourite seat during my training contract.
I have always enjoyed analytical work, and tax legislation feels like a puzzle that needs to be understood and then explained clearly. At Macfarlanes, the tax department covers a wide range of practice areas. Alongside corporate tax, I work on matters involving investment management, remuneration and VAT. The variety keeps the work intellectually stimulating and allows me to develop a broad skill set.
My responsibilities as a trainee at Macfarlanes
In departments such as litigation or corporate, trainees often have classic tasks such as bundling or assisting with signings.
Tax is different. Instead of those traditional responsibilities, I usually take the first cut of a piece of work before passing it to someone more senior. My typical tasks include legal research and drafting bespoke documents such as notes of advice, structure papers or step plans.
What I expect from life as a newly qualified solicitor
I expect my work to be similar to my trainee experience, but with greater responsibility. I will be researching entire problems rather than isolated aspects, drafting more complex documents and reviewing longer materials in greater detail.
As I qualify in September, I am interested to see how attitudes to remote working evolve once restrictions are lifted. I hope we move towards a model where time spent in the office is just one part of our working lives rather than the defining feature of them.
How I stay commercially aware
I rely on a system that makes commercial awareness manageable. Every Monday morning, I receive news alerts in my inbox. I scan around thirty headlines and read approximately five articles. If I want to explore something further, I save it for later. I often write up my thoughts in batches and keep a document with a pipeline of content so I am never starting from scratch when I decide to share something.
My top tips for writing legal blogs
First, write about what genuinely interests you. Without real interest, the habit will not last. Start small and build gradually. I began by posting short reflections on LinkedIn, highlighting key points from articles and explaining why I found them interesting. This helped me become comfortable with my voice in a public space. Over time, connections form between the things you read, and your commentary naturally grows into a blog or article.
What inspired me to write Forgetting May
Forgetting May is a very different writing project. It is a novel about caring for someone with dementia, inspired by watching my father support his mother for many years. I recommend the experience of distilling your thoughts into a book and thinking about your writing as a commercial proposition. Both processes offer significant personal development at any stage of your career.
My thoughts on gender equality in the legal profession
Writing about gender and career progression often focuses on what women can do to improve their chances. Self‑help can be useful, but it unintentionally places responsibility for inequality on women themselves.
There is extensive research on what organisations can do to support women’s progression, yet this remains largely academic because it is not as commoditised as self‑help. I will be writing more about this organisational perspective in my new role as a contributing writer at Legal Women magazine.
How my Languages and Management degree shaped my career
Languages keep you open‑minded. They remind you that London and the English language are not the centre of the universe. They also help build relationships. If I know a colleague or client speaks French or Russian, I mention that we share that connection. My interest in organisational behaviour and policy stems directly from my time at business school. I hope this demonstrates that you do not need a law degree to become a solicitor.
When I decided to pursue law
My first experience of commercial law came during Sixth Form on a work experience week. I remained open‑minded for several years until I worked at a large firm in Moscow during my languages degree. That experience convinced me to apply for vacation schemes when I returned to the UK.
My training contract application journey and top tips
Behind every acceptance lies a pile of rejections. During the final year of my languages degree, I attended two vacation schemes but did not receive an offer. During business school, I applied directly for training contracts and received an offer from Macfarlanes. Most of my trainee intake had at least a year of further education or work experience before securing an offer.
My three top tips are:
Research what the firm wants and use the right language. Graduate recruitment teams review huge volumes of applications. Make it easy for them to find what they need.
Show your competencies through evidence. Instead of saying you have commercial awareness, explain how you developed it.
Get out of the library and do something. Your degree alone is not enough. Attend law fairs, open days and events to demonstrate initiative and curiosity.
My biggest life lesson as a trainee
Relationships matter more than billing an extra hour. Good relationships determine whether you enjoy your job and stay for a decade or dislike it and leave within a few years. Do your job well, but remember that you are also there to build meaningful professional connections. Surround yourself with people who influence you positively.
What I enjoy outside work
Alongside languages and writing, I love athletics. I compete locally as a hammer and discus thrower, and weightlifting is central to my training. I hope people have used their saved commute time during lockdown to pursue interests outside work. These passions support mental health and help develop new skills that contribute to long‑term career progression.
Final thoughts
Be deliberate about your habits. They shape your life more than you realise. Working late for a specific, time‑limited reason is sometimes necessary, but working late without purpose quickly becomes a habit. Small, consistent actions accumulate.
When I finished my languages degree in 2014, I worried I would forget everything I had learned, so I began watching short YouTube videos in French and Russian each day. Six years later, my spoken skills are stronger than ever. Fifteen minutes a day becomes ninety hours a year.
Habits can help or hinder you, so choose them carefully.
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