Case study

Maddie Wakeman — Trainee solicitor

Employer
RPC

Maddie studied law at the University of Cambridge and is currently in the third seat of her training contract at RPC

Why did you choose a career in law?

I enjoyed studying law as an academic subject at university, learning about the cases and legislation that shape our legal system and the principles that underpin them. Pursuing a career in law felt like a natural progression, complementing my strengths in written communication, problem solving and critical analysis, and offering challenging, stimulating work.

I was particularly interested in pursuing a career as a solicitor as I was drawn to working collaboratively within a team and engaging directly with clients.

What was your pathway to RPC?

After I graduated from university, I wanted to gain more practical experience within the legal sector. My first role was an internship at Advocate, the Bar's national pro bono charity, where I processed applications for legal assistance from vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the public.

I then joined an international law firm as a paralegal, working predominantly on project finance matters with the banking team. These experiences gave me a valuable insight into the differences between the academic study of law and its practical application in a professional environment.

I applied for RPC's summer scheme and attended virtually in June 2021 due to the pandemic. The scheme allowed me to experience RPC's culture first-hand, to learn more about RPC's sectors and to work on real client matters. I was impressed by the firm's supportive environment and focus on trainee development.

Why did you apply to RPC?

I was drawn to RPC's reputation for handling high-profile, complex matters for household-name clients. RPC's expertise in litigation was a significant factor in my decision to apply - I am particularly interested in contentious work because it requires strategic thinking, problem solving and offers excitement in working towards tight deadlines on high-stakes matters.

RPC is well-known for its work in media disputes, particularly in acting for defendants in libel claims. The firm has ongoing relationships with a range of clients, including:

  • broadcasters
  • magazines
  • national newspapers
  • social media companies.

This specialism is of particular interest to me as, whilst at university, I was heavily involved in the student newspaper, working as a columnist and a section editor. I had previously considered a career in journalism and I am interested in issues such as freedom of the press. I knew that joining RPC would offer the unique opportunity to combine my interests in both litigation and journalism.

I am grateful to have since completed a six-month seat with the media team, during which I was exposed to over 40 matters and assisted the team in securing a widely-publicised victory for The Spectator in a claim brought by Mohammed Hijab, a content creator with over 1.3 million subscribers, following a four-day trial at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Additionally, I was attracted to the firm's inclusive culture. The ‘strikingly real’ campaign, encouraging individuals to bring their whole selves to work, particularly resonated with me. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, traditional professional environments can sometimes be intimidating. I have found the firm to be genuinely accepting, and I enjoyed attending Bristol Pride with RPC Rain, the firm's LGBTQ+ community group, earlier this year.

What is a typical day like as a trainee solicitor?

I am currently a third seat trainee in the property and casualty insurance team. My first seat was in commercial and banking litigation and my second seat was in media disputes. Due to the diversity of matters worked on within each department, the breadth of tasks that a trainee is responsible for and the unpredictability of litigation, it is difficult to fully describe a typical day as a trainee.

Trainee responsibilities range from essential administrative tasks, such as preparing bundles and proofreading skeletons, to drafting substantive legal documents such as:

  • court applications
  • defences
  • witness statements.

Trainees at RPC are actively involved in matters from an early stage, with regular opportunities to attend client meetings, both virtually and in person at client offices.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend two trials during my first year at RPC: a ten-day trial in the intellectual property list of the Business and Property Courts with the commercial and banking litigation team, and a four-day trial in the media and communications list of the King’s Bench Division with the media disputes team.

It is rare to gain so much courtroom exposure within the first year of a training contract, with cases often settling before the matter reaches court. Observing proceedings first-hand and supporting the team throughout the trial process provided me with an invaluable practical insight into the litigation process and enabled me to put my understanding of the litigation process in context.

How can future trainees make the most of their training contract?

Engaging in firm-wide initiatives can be a valuable way for trainees to network and build connections across departments with colleagues from both legal and business services teams.

For example:

  • Through my involvement in the pro bono committee, I developed professional relationships with several members of the marketing communications team who assisted us in publishing our internal communications.
  • Whilst acting as a mentor in a programme offered by the firm which pairs legal and business services staff with local school children to discuss future careers options, I was able to network with a project coordinator from the IT team, who had also volunteered as a mentor.
  • In attending Bristol Pride with RPC Rain, I was able to meet a paralegal based in the Bristol office who I had worked with on numerous matters, but previously had only been able to speak with via teams. I also spent a significant portion of the march walking with a senior member of the strategic engagement team.

What advice would you give to aspiring trainees?

Applying for training contracts can be a daunting process, often requiring significant time spent on lengthy application forms, followed by:

  • virtual assessments
  • interviews
  • summer schemes.

It is important to try and remain resilient throughout the application process - I have friends at many different firms in the city, and I don't know anyone who made just one application and was immediately successful.

Spend time researching firms thoroughly, attend law fairs and insight days where possible. Although it sounds cliché, it is definitely about finding the right firm for you, as well as you being the right fit for the firm.

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