Hannah’s path to becoming a Solicitor with Gildeas
- Hi Hannah, could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Hannah, I am 25 years old and I am from Edinburgh. I studied law at the University of Aberdeen for 5 years before moving to Glasgow to start my Traineeship with Gildeas in 2021. All you need to know about me is I am very chilled out, especially for someone who runs competitively and has my job role! I also have 4 brothers, but more importantly a cockapoo called Buddy.
- How long have you been working at Gildeas for?
I started in October 2021. I remember arriving at the office on my first day and realising that coming into the office was not the norm at the time due to COVID-19… especially not 5 days per week. Now the office is full almost every day and it feels like a long time since I started at Gildeas.
- What role did you cover and what tasks did you undertake?
I am a Trainee Solicitor, in my second year. The short answer is that trainees cover every role and task that they are asked to. The role is not restricted and I have ended up learning a bit about everything: from Personal Injury, Credit Hire, and Debt Recovery.
As a trainee you will likely also be very involved with Simple Procedure (non-personal injury claims worth less than £5,000). When I started my Traineeship, I was introduced to Simple Procedure, and after many failed attempts, rejected documents and guesswork later… I have somehow become the person everyone comes to for Simple Procedure queries.
- You recently started mentoring trainees, how is it going?
This is very recent, but it has surprised me as it turns out maybe I know more than I thought…. The new trainees are great, and I think that sometimes when you have been in that position recently, you can relate to how overwhelming (and tiring) starting a traineeship can be. I hope that as time goes on, I can be of more help and in doing so I can reinforce what I have learned so far.
- What is the biggest achievement during your role as a Trainee?
This is a difficult one, but potentially getting my Restricted Practice Certificate and appearing in person in the Sheriff Courts has been a big step forward for me. In my Traineeship, there has been multiple times where I have had to make a big jump forward, not knowing whether I was ready or not. This has varied from leading consultations with clients in person near the beginning of my traineeship, to appearing in Court for the first time. Whilst I may have felt like a small fish in some of these moments, I am now beginning to reap the benefits of these experiences.
- What is the best part of being a Trainee Solicitor at Gildeas?
My team. I am very lucky to have been placed in such a great team almost two years ago now. Everyone is approachable, knowledgeable, and hard working. When I graduated from university and started my traineeship, there was no tricky transition period, I was welcomed by the team as soon as I joined. This had made the bad days bearable, and the support I have received has filled me with confidence when making steps forward in my career.
- In October you will become a fully qualified Solicitor, how do you feel about it?
A year ago, I would have said that I do not think I will ever be ready. Now I have progressed to the point where I hope that not much will change between now and when I qualify. I think that the longer I have been working at Gildeas, the more my colleagues have trusted and respected me, and I feel as though I have become a familiar face who belongs here.
- Looking back on your traineeship at Gildeas, what advice would you give to aspiring solicitors who may be considering applying for a training contract at Gildeas? Are there any specific qualities or skills that candidates should focus on to succeed in this role?
You would just need to be ready for everything to be new at first. I would say that litigation can be stressful and quick paced, so anyone looking to apply for a Traineeship should be aware of this and look to apply for the role if they think that their attitude and personality would suit this. One thing that suits my mind-set is that every day I can expect something different to happen which I have not come across before. I am never ever bored.
Gildeas Solicitors have offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh and specialise in personal injury cases, including road traffic accidents.
We go the extra mile for our clients by providing services such as roadside assistance, vehicle repairs, and hire vehicles.
Customer satisfaction is our top priority. According to customer reviews , among civil law firms with over 200 reviews, we proudly hold the second highest rating in Glasgow. We currently have a stellar rating of 4.9 on Reviews Io and 4.7 on Google [August 2023].