Training In‑House, Building Commercial Awareness and Balancing the LPC: An Interview with Trainee Solicitor Jahed Hussain

Current stage of my career

I am a trainee solicitor working for one of the largest automotive parts distributors in the UK, with a turnover of £1.4 billion in 2019. I graduated with First‑Class Honours in LLB Law from Birmingham City University in 2016. Due to financial constraints, and with an awareness of the changing legal market, I chose to complete the LPC part‑time at the University of Law while working full‑time.

During this period, I worked at Gateley Plc, now Gateley Legal, and at Openreach, part of BT Group. I later secured a training contract with Euro Car Parts Limited, and I am due to qualify in October 2020.

Working in‑house has given me exposure to legal work within a company with both European and international operations. My primary responsibilities include reviewing a wide range of commercial contracts, such as IT agreements, distribution agreements, terms and conditions for the sale of goods and services and agency contracts. I also assist Senior Legal Counsel and the Head of Legal with regulatory matters, employment contracts, intellectual property and civil disputes.

How I secured an in‑house training contract

In‑house training contracts are rarely advertised, so I made the most of every opportunity at university. I held roles such as Senior Mooting Manager for the Mooting Society, Retail Assistant for the Students’ Union shop and Employment Law Telephone Advisor for the university’s pro bono clinic.

These experiences strengthened my applications and helped me stand out. I first learned about in‑house roles when I saw a paralegal position advertised at Openreach. I applied and demonstrated my interest in commercial law and the company by highlighting the transferable skills I had gained at university and Gateley.

At Openreach, I was given my own caseload immediately and enjoyed the responsibility of managing my work without being micromanaged. I later became the single point of contact for a major client installing telecommunications apparatus across the UK.

After about 1 year, I saw a Commercial Paralegal role advertised at Euro Car Parts. I researched the company and recognised the potential exposure to high‑quality legal work. After about 7 months in the role, I impressed my team and was offered a training contract by the Head of Legal.

Advice for aspiring lawyers

I encourage aspiring lawyers to find two mentors: one who is a qualified lawyer and one who understands how businesses operate. Mentoring schemes such as Inspiring Futures at Birmingham City University are helpful. If your university does not offer a scheme, ask the careers team to help you find one. That is what I did.

I improved my employability by seeking constructive feedback on my strengths and weaknesses from people who could be honest with me. This helped me identify areas for development that I had not previously recognised.

The best aspects of working in‑house

The best aspects of working in‑house include:

• the variety of work and exposure to different areas of law
• the level of commerciality, which exceeds private practice because commercial awareness is gained through practical experience within the industry
• involvement in projects and close collaboration with internal stakeholders
• the absence of time recording, although time efficiency and cost‑effectiveness remain essential because in‑house legal teams are a cost centre

Shorter working hours, however, are a myth.

What commercial awareness looks like in practice

Commercial awareness requires staying informed about issues that may affect your client and considering these when drafting contracts or providing advice. For example, if a client seeks advice on a finance‑related software contract, you must be aware of legal developments in the financial sector and consider how to reduce the client’s financial and legal exposure through clear drafting.

To maintain commercial awareness, I stay updated with business and legal developments affecting my client. I read free blogs and articles on platforms such as LexisNexis and Reuters.

My client does not differ from private practice clients. I must still provide high‑quality, cost‑effective and timely advice that is easy to understand. The difference is that I am involved in the entire process rather than completing a single task, as a trainee or junior lawyer might do in private practice.

Balancing part‑time LPC studies with full‑time work

Studying part‑time at weekends while working full‑time was the most difficult experience I have had. I relied on effective time management, stayed focused on my end goal and completed preparatory reading every evening after work. I completed notes and workshop tasks at weekends.

Although the LPC was mentally exhausting, I gained valuable skills, including time management, organisation and the ability to work under pressure. I also built a network of contacts and friends, as many students on the LPC were trainee solicitors or paralegals. This helped me learn more about different firms.