Felicity Lowless

Name and background

My name is Felicity and I work in the Clarke Willmott Bristol Office. I graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in English Literature; I then converted to Law through the GDL. I joined the firm as a trainee solicitor two months ago and I'm currently in my first seat in the commercial property department.

Why I chose Clarke Willmott

I choose Clarke Willmott because I wanted to work for a regional firm without compromising on the standard of training I would receive and the quality of work and clients that I would be exposed to. Clarke Willmott has an impressive client base and with that can offer a high quality of work to its employees.

What I’ve found Clarke Willmott to be like since starting

I spent my first day in the firm in the commercial property department. My inevitable nerves were soon put to ease. I was introduced to my supervisor who took the time out of her day to show me around the office and introduce me to everybody in the department - which was quite an undertaking as the department is quite large! Everybody was extremely welcoming and I felt very reassured by the number of people who encouraged me to approach them any time if I felt that I could benefit from their advice, or if I had any questions. A few members of the department took me out to lunch and by the end of the day I felt very much more integrated into the firm.

The first two weeks with the firm are primarily spent on induction giving you all the information and skills needed for the training contract. It was also a really good opportunity to meet and get to know the other trainees in my year.

How I was supported as a new trainee

As a new Trainee it's perfectly natural that one of your greatest concerns will be the level of support that you will receive. I very quickly realised that at Clarke Willmott that is not a point of concern. Whilst my supervisor is busy, she will always make time to answer any queries that I might have and I have learnt a great deal from the time that she has given me. I also find my other colleagues extremely approachable and when my supervisor has been unavailable I have never found myself without a friendly face that is willing to give me the guidance that I require. Receiving this level of support from my colleagues is really enhancing the standard of the training that Clarke Willmott is providing as it has enabled me to feel really confident in the quality of the work that I am processing.

How I see my career progressing

I look forward to progressing my career with Clarke Willmott. The firm offers a wide choice of seats and having experienced four different departments, I will be in a position to make an informed decision about my qualification options. The firm is keen to support its employees through further training and development, and I’ve already had the chance to attend various courses, not just in relation to legal work but also the development of the firm as a whole. I've been given lots of opportunities to be involved in networking and marketing activities.

Why someone should choose Clarke Willmott

Clarke Willmott can offer a high quality of training to someone who wants to be part of an ambitious client led firm whilst benefitting from the firm's regional surroundings. Although I’ve only been with the firm for a couple of months, I’m confident that Clarke Willmott is the right firm for me.

My experience of the firm so far has exceeded my expectations.