September saw a new cohort of trainee solicitors start at Rollits, which included Leila Bolton, Daniel Huntley-Taylor and Charlotte Milligan. We had a chat with them to find out what they think about a career in the law and what their training involves.
Can you tell us about the journey you took into law?
Leila Bolton: “I was a university student in the late 1990s before entering the hospitality industry in Scotland. I later moved to Hull, where I was a pub manager for Whitbread Inns and then for a few independents, including owning the lease to a pub. I was called up for jury service in 2019, and it was this that inspired me to study for a Law degree at the University of Hull, followed by the Legal Practice Course (LPC).”
Daniel Huntley-Taylor: “I left school at 16 and fell into work as a chef at Smith & Nephew for four years. When I was 18 I wanted to go to university but as I had no A Levels that was impossible. I contacted the University of Hull and their advice was to study for an Access to Higher Education course before beginning my degree in 2020 and I graduated in 2023..”
Charlotte Milligan: “I did my A-Levels in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, which was when all grades got cut down, so I didn’t make any of my university offers. After many phone calls I managed to get a place at York St John University, where I studied my undergraduate degree.”
Where did you go from there?
Leila: “The further I got into the LPC, the more passionate I became about going into practice. I had a gap year between finishing the course and joining Rollits for my training, and so far I’m really enjoying learning more about dispute resolution. At university I very much enjoyed problem-solving, which is a useful skill for dispute resolution, family law, commercial law, and many other areas. The only area I didn’t enjoy during my course was criminal law, but Rollits don’t offer this service – this actually influenced my decision to apply for training here, as I can focus on all of the areas that I find interesting.”
Daniel: “I applied to Rollits in my second year at university, following a summer placement and this gave me a good idea of what the firm is like. I liked the work Rollits did and I wanted to be based in Hull so I applied – thankfully, they offered me an interview for the training scheme and I was successful in securing a place which I started in September.”
Charlotte: “In my second year I started applying for work experience and training contracts, which was a very difficult process when the world was coming out of covid – many places were still working remotely and weren’t offering work experience. Eventually I managed to secure some work experience at Rollits, which took place in 2022. I then did the Legal Practice Course at York St John and handed in my dissertation the day I started here.”
How are you finding your training at Rollits?
Leila: “I knew that Rollits was a very good law firm as I’d already done some work experience here, so I was confident that the company culture would suit me. Now that I’m doing my training, I already feel part of the team. It’s a very supportive environment, and trainees receive great feedback and guidance along the way, plus there are discussions around every single task you undertake, which is very reassuring. From senior partners to newly qualified solicitors, everyone helps us to do our best work.”
Daniel: “I’ve been with the Corporate team at Rollits since I started and it’s been a very busy few weeks, especially during the run-up to the Budget. I’ve definitely not been sat around twiddling my thumbs. It’s an extremely knowledgeable and supportive team and I like that everyone helps each other.”
Charlotte: “During the LPC I liked all areas of law, but I particularly enjoy working in property. It’s interesting to work in different departments at Rollits and see what comes up, as there may be other areas of law that appeal to me more than before. There’s so much that we get to do, as our training includes trying our hand at a wide variety of work and we have constant support. Everyone has been approachable from day one and you always have someone to help you learn. It’s such a lovely place to work and I’m really enjoying my training.”
Find out more about training and careers at Rollits
The Period of Recognised Training is currently being phased out as part of the transition to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Students who began their law studies after 1st September 2021 must take the SQE to qualify as a solicitor, which involves two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) instead of a training contract. If you’re interested in becoming a solicitor, visit this page for information from Rollits about the opportunities available to you.