elizabeth harris

I start at Ashurst as a trainee solicitor in September 2016 after completing the LPC in 2015.

I worked at Hardys during my gap year after university in order to save up money for travelling and moving to London. I worked in a small team, often with only three of us running a small but very busy shop and I was responsible for stocking up, serving customers and upselling products in order to achieve daily targets.

I worked on the tills in a very large, busy store which was awarded Store of the Region while I was there. This mainly consisted of serving customers and dealing with queries but after a couple of months, I asked to be trained on the photo department as well because many delays were caused by that department being short staffed. First I was trained on the photo counters on the shop floor and once I had quickly mastered those, I was trained in the photo lab, including developing films, quality checking photos, printing posters and building photo canvases.

Teach computing skills to elderly local residents once a week. Participate in "Generations Together", where pairs of students visit local elderly Durham residents weekly or fortnightly to keep them company and perform small household tasks together. Develops interests outside of academic work and time-keeping skills.

I spent three weeks at Ashurst, in the Real Estate Construction, Tax and ERI (Energy, Resources and Infrastructure) teams. We had to complete a written task alongside our departmental work which tested our analytical ability and understanding of a particular area of law we had not encountered before. We also had to present a case study to a small panel on the Shard and the work that went into ensuring it could be built. I really enjoyed my time at Ashurst because the work was incredbly interesting but also the culture was inviting and welcoming. When I received an offer of a training contract from them, I accepted so I will be training there from September 2016.

I spent two weeks at Travers Smith in their commercial and employment teams. I completed several workshops while at the firm, including a negotiation workshop, litigation workshop and a 'Dragon's Den Style' pitching exercise. Although I enjoyed the work I did there, it made me realise that I would prefer to work in a larger, more international firm with opportunities for international and client secondments.

I spent three weeks at Baker & McKenzie on a vacation scheme placement, sitting in real estate then corporate EMI (Energy, Mining & Infrastructure). I enjoyed my time immensely and felt that my communication skills improved drastically throughout the three weeks spent there as I had to complete a mock client pitch exercise, which involved researching the firm and 'selling' it to a panel of judges. I received the offer of a training contract after the scheme.

I spent two days at Dickinson Dees (now merged with Bond Pearce to create Bond Dickinson) in their construction and insolvency departments. The work was incredibly interesting but it confirmed to me that I preferred the faster pace and bigger clients which came with working in the City rather than in a regional firm

I went to beginners debating workshops to develop public speaking skills and ability to articulate arguments well. I was also on the official campaign team for a DUS President including canvassing and advertising. I regularly attended Friday Night Debates, developing current affairs knowledge, hearing speakers from David Miliband to A.C. Grayling.

Course of three workshops by BPP with the third taking place at their office in Leeds in February with external speakers. Received a BPP Commercial Awareness Certificate at the end of the course.

Linklaters organised a commercial awareness event where live audience members asked the panel any questions they had about commercial awareness and how to show it in applications. The event was streamed live on the internet but I won a place in the live audience, with about 60 other university students, from their 360 reasons competition. The event was very helpful in increasing knowledge of commercial awareness.

The day at Hogan Lovells included many workshops to increase knowledge of the firm, being a lawyer and the city in general, including a talk on "demystifying the city", which developed my knowledge of city practices and financial terms. We also had lunch with various trainees, where I spoke to Olivia Rose who further increased my knowledge of the firm from a trainee's perspective. The workshop on the anatomy of a deal was also very good, as it developed my experience of looking at a deal from each client's perspective, whether it was the bank, the shareholders or the suppliers. Overall, the whole day was invaluable in adding to my knowledge of Hogan Lovells.

The event was open to Bright Network members who attended the Commercial law event in London in September. We were given a talk on securitisation and how it helped to lead to the financial collapse, which helped to increase knowledge of current affairs and commercial awareness. We were then given a talk about Clifford Chance and given the opportunity to talk to associates and trainees, which increased my knowledge of the work that city lawyers do.

Given business problem to solve in team of 5 using both legal and commercial knowledge. Had to pick relevant information out of 7 documents, 2 of which were red herrings. Came second place.

Networked with 10 top law firms and attended workshops by Gywn Day on applications and interviews, commercial awareness and assessment centres. Developed commercial awareness, networking skills, careers advice, interview techniques and knowledge of companies.

Worked in a team of three to organize children’s party for over 50 children and their parents to increase awareness and recognition of small childcare business’s services in local area. Developed commercial awareness, on a small scale, because involved working out what the company needed to do in order to expand its clientele and therefore increase profit in a financial climate where so many parents have been made redundant and so no longer require childcare.

Developed accounting skills, to balance the books for a small club with around 20 members. Involved collecting and banking the membership money each month and completing the accounts every year on a spread sheet. Also managed all correspondence with members and speakers, including newsletters and letters, which developed formal writing skills.

Developed time-keeping skills, communication and sales techniques. Also developed problem solving skills because required creativity and enthusiasm to deal with customers’ requests. Achieved "Salesperson of the Period" for being consistently high performing employee with exceptional customer service Dealt with returns on a regular basis, which involved applying the company’s terms and conditions to each individual situation.

Reiterated desire to work in a bigger, city firm. Sat in on client meetings and developed client-solicitor etiquette.

Cambridge course fiercely competitive to get onto due to leading academics running it. Confirmed and developed enthusiasm for law through workshops on a range of legal issues. Debate Chamber course developed knowledge and love of London as a place to study and work. Took role of 1st barrister in mock trial in London (and won), confirming interest in becoming a solicitor rather than a barrister.

Achieved a first class degree in law.

5 A levels: History: A Politics: A* English Literature: A* Psychology: A* General Studies: A* Completed 11 GCSEs: 10 A*s 1 A Grade 6 Clarinet YASS Open University Degree Module in "Ethics in Real Life"