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With National Apprentice Week nearing its end, we are reflecting on our apprenticeship programme and the aspiring individuals who are contributing to the future of our firm.
Apprenticeships are now an increasingly popular route into the legal profession. Offering flexible and inclusive learning pathways, apprenticeships with a trusted training partner give us the opportunity to invest in our people, nurturing potential, and creating opportunities for those who want to learn whilst they earn.
For nearly three centuries, our firm has been built on relationships, trust, and connection with Cornwall and Devon. Our apprenticeship programme is a natural extension of these values, focusing on growing talent from within.
We are proactively thinking about where the firm is heading, and ensuring the next generation of professionals (both legal and legal support) who come through are prepared to fulfil this direction.
By offering apprenticeship opportunities, we’re able to embed our learners within our culture and ensure best practice from day one. Whilst learning the technical intricacies of the law, our apprentices pick up the nuances of client care and empathy – which is equally as important. A huge part of being a lawyer is to support clients through some of the most challenging and uncertain times of their lives, and one of the ways we prepare our apprentices is by demonstrating a supportive network ourselves.
Being part of someone’s professional journey is one thing, but there is something very valuable in creating well-rounded individuals who carry compassion and integrity throughout their work. We champion this approach by considering the whole person, not just the qualification at the end.
Chief People Officer at Coodes, Becky Hosken, spoke with some of our apprentices about their experiences here. Their insights offer a glimpse into what the apprenticeship process looks like and the support they’ve received along the way.
What’s been the most surprising part of your apprenticeship so far?
All the reflection I have had to make no longer feels like a chore and has become second nature – I am even applying it to my professional and personal life!
What’s one skill you’ve learned that you didn’t expect to?
I have always been good with time management but I did not expect it would be so hard to juggle so many things at the same time. Of course, there have been sacrifices made but the motto of my apprenticeship has been “short-term pain, long-term gain”. As much as it sounds like a cliché, it is really accurate for me. Another skill is of course reflection, reflection, reflection!
What advice would you give someone considering an apprenticeship?
You never know exactly how hard it would be, but I can assure you, it would be worth it. Make sure you surround yourself with people who understand that you would need support and that you might not always be available, but this would only be temporary. Also, if you have children, prepare to be a little bit less present for a while. Do not forget that you should still do the things you love and you should not abandon your hobbies and the things that make you, you! Make sure you silence the nagging feeling of guilt every time you do something different than study – this would help make you more focused and productive when you do study.
Last but not least, remember that the path to achieving your goals and dreams would not be easy but would be very rewarding in the end! Good luck!
What are you most proud of since starting your apprenticeship?
It might not sound like a lot but I am proud of actually being able to juggle all of my responsibilities – studying whilst working full-time and having a young child with special needs has not been easy. I am just proud of still being motivated and excited about the apprenticeship!
What are your future aspirations after completing your apprenticeship, and how do you think your training will help you to achieve them?
My dream is to become a solicitor and continue my career at Coodes. This apprenticeship is the path to achieving this. Studying whilst working and applying what you learn in practice is a great way to prepare me for what comes next.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Coodes?
My favourite thing about Coodes is that I feel at home here and everyone feels like a family. They have been incredibly supportive of my career aspirations from the start and have given me countless opportunities; they have always believed in me and this means a lot. They have never made me feel like I was not deserving of their support, being the employee coming from a foreign country who even went to school in a foreign country. I am so grateful and if everything goes according to plan, completing my apprenticeship would coincide with my 10th anniversary at Coodes.
What advice would you give someone considering an apprenticeship?
Look into the course in detail and check that its right for you and then approach it with an open mind and ready to learn as it will cover huge volumes of knowledge that you perhaps didn’t even expect it would.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Coodes?
My favourite thing about working at Coodes is being part of a team and having a support network of people you can ask for help in daily work as well as queries in relation to the apprenticeship learning. Through colleagues at Coodes you can even further develop knowledge that is learned through the apprenticeship.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Coodes?
I’m really grateful to Coodes for their support of my apprenticeship journey. As a Litigation Executive I have had the opportunity to gain valuable experience and develop my skills and Coodes has been instrumental in helping me take the next step towards achieving my Level 6 Legal Executive qualification. Their encouragement and flexibility have made it possible for me to balance work, study and homelife. Coodes ongoing support will play a huge part in me achieving my career goals.
What’s been the most surprising part of your apprenticeship so far?
The most surprising part has been that learning doesn’t actually feel like “learning” – in the best possible way. So much of it happens through practical work, everyday conversations, and small challenges you face throughout the day. It’s amazing how much of it sticks, and how quickly you start to feel more comfortable taking on more responsibility.
What’s one skill you’ve learned that you didn’t expect to?
I’ve learned that it’s okay to feel stressed or under pressure – it often means you’re working towards something important, like passing exams you’ve wanted for so long. I’ve realised that pressure can actually be a privilege. Younger me could only have dreamed of being a solicitor apprentice at this age.
What advice would you give someone considering an apprenticeship?
Go for it. An apprenticeship is one of the best ways to gain real-world experience while learning at the same time. You don’t need to know everything before you start – you just need to be willing to ask questions, get involved, and learn as you go and remember it’s okay not to know everything. That’s exactly what an apprenticeship is for.
What are you most proud of since starting your apprenticeship?
I’m proud of how well I’ve balanced my time – managing work tasks, study deadlines, and still keeping up with my social and extracurricular activities such as being on the committee for the Junior Lawyers Division , volunteering at the local café and training for cheerleading comps in addition to making times for friends and family. Finding that balance has been a big achievement.
What are your future aspirations after completing your apprenticeship, and how will your training help you achieve them?
I hope to become a fully qualified solicitor within the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team. My training is helping me get there by allowing me to learn real, practical skills and understand the day-to-day realities of running a file. It’s giving me the experience and confidence to hopefully start my solicitor career at Coodes strongly
What’s your favourite thing about working at Coodes?
The level of support I’ve received from everyone. Whether I’m celebrating an achievement or confiding in someone about exam stress or training pressures, I asking for new challenges or being given new challenges I always feel genuinely supported which makes me feel like I can really progress in my role.
What’s been the most surprising part of your apprenticeship so far?
How much support we get from the apprenticeship provider. The course is designed to help us achieve and there is so much support both from tutors, workshops, and strategy sessions to help guide us.
What advice would you give someone considering an apprenticeship?
Don’t overlook it as an option. It has enabled me to focus on my studies alongside work and its provided a format where I don’t have to create a study plan as it is all done for me to follow which makes a huge difference around work/home life.
What are your future aspirations after completing your apprenticeship, and how do you think your training will help you to achieve them?
To qualify as a solicitor with the help and guidance from the training provider to get there.
What’s your favourite thing about working at Coodes?
The firm’s supportive, collaborative and team-orientated environment and the personal and professional support they provide.
What advice would you give someone considering an apprenticeship?
My advice would be to take every opportunity that is given to you to develop your skills and grow as a person.
There is a common theme of support and individual care throughout these apprentice spotlights. Day by day, they are growing in confidence and managing more responsibilities, taking them one step closer to where they need to be.
National Apprentice Week isn’t just about what the apprentices should bring to Coodes, but what we hope to bring to them. That being a positive environment where they feel professionally and personally encouraged, the recognition of hard work, and making it known that they are an integral member of the team.
We would like to thank our training partners at Damar Training and CILEX Law School who are integral to the process.
Thank you to all our apprentices, past and present, for choosing Coodes and allowing us to be a part of your journey. We really appreciate the fresh perspectives you bring to our firm everyday, and we are looking forward to seeing you achieve everything you set out to – hopefully with us.
If you’re considering an apprenticeship in law, we encourage you to explore what’s available. As our apprentices have explained, it’s one of the most productive and worthwhile development routes which may end up in becoming a qualified lawyer. With the right mentors, you might surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.
Call us on 0800 328 3282, or complete the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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