Employability

“Throughout my second year of my undergraduate degree, I had the pleasure of spending seven months at Ellisons Solicitors. This was an amazing opportunity, not only growing my network, but contributing to my legal knowledge and experience. I predominantly sat in the Family Law Department with Francesca and also gained experience in employment law, commercial property, and corporate law.

“Whilst on my placement, I was able to broaden my knowledge about each area of family law. I achieved this by attending client meetings, completing work for Francesca, attending a barristers conference, and understanding what a solicitor’s day is really like in this area of law. I was invited on many social events with the Family team.

“Overall, I had an amazing time during my placement at Ellisons Solicitors. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity, as I expanded my knowledge in many different areas of law, which will contribute to my knowledge at the Legal Advice Centre. I also thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Francesca and her team, and that was down to everyone at the firm being incredibly welcoming!”

I graduated from the University of Suffolk in 2022 and, since then, I have been working at Ellisons Solicitors as a paralegal in the Commercial Property Team, where I am also studying and training for my Solicitors Qualifying Exam.

I started at the Legal Advice Centre in 2021. My time at the LAC allowed me to strengthen my communication skills through leading client interviews which exposed me to different areas of law and the issues which can arise within them. Additionally, my confidence developed throughout my time at the LAC, which I attribute to leading the client interviews and also writing the subsequent letters of advice.

As the LAC was set up in my final year of university, it meant that I had to manage my time effectively, as I was balancing modules with volunteering at the LAC. This skill has helped me in my job, as I am able to effectively manage different matters that I assist with and am also able to balance studying for my SQE.

I would like to thank Eleanor for her support during my time there, as I found the opportunity invaluable, and I am grateful that I was able to be a part of the LAC during my degree. I would highly recommend joining the LAC to any future or current students, as the skills that you pick up will help you prepare for your future career, whether that’s in the legal sector or not.

I wish the Legal Advice Centre all the best for the future!

After completing my LPC LLM in June, I am now working as a Residential Property Paralegal for Gardner Leader LLP.

I joined the Legal Advice Centre in my second year at the University of Suffolk. I was a part of the original team which helped to found the clinic in 2021.

Joining the LAC was a fantastic opportunity that only furthered my career in law. From the beginning, the clinic allowed me to grow in my communication, public speaking, legal, teamwork and problem-solving skills. It also enabled me to understand the practical aspects of what I was learning in my actual degree. Not only that, when writing my dissertation in my final year, it played a pivotal role in aiding me in my research.

I often find that the legal training I had, from writing legal advice and documents to client interaction and research, has been a huge help in strengthening my approach in my day-to-day working life. The clinic built in me an infrastructure that has supported, and will continue to support, me in my career.

I will forever be grateful for the time I had at the University of Suffolk and believe the law clinic is a fantastic agency that provides free and great legal advice to the public. I wish the Advice Centre and the team nothing but success.

I am currently completing my SQE1 and pursuing a Master's in Criminal Law and Justice at the University of Suffolk, whilst also working part time. I also volunteer with Citizens Advice one day a week.

I joined the Legal Advice Centre (LAC) in my first year at the University of Suffolk in September 2021 and continued volunteering until I completed my degree in May 2024. My experience at the LAC has significantly enhanced my confidence, knowledge, and practical legal skills, including research, drafting letters of advice, and client interviews. These skills have been invaluable in my studies and have improved my organisational abilities.

I am already applying the skills I developed at the LAC in my volunteer work with Citizens Advice and will continue to do so as I prepare for my SQE exams. This experience has been instrumental in building my confidence and preparing me for my future career.

During my placement at the LAC, I gained numerous networking opportunities, for which I am very grateful. I look forward to the coming year and the possibility of continuing my volunteer work at the LAC alongside my Master's studies.

I graduated from the University of Suffolk in 2024, and am now working at Ellisons Solicitors as a Trainee Solicitor.

I began volunteering at the Legal Advice Centre in my first year at the University of Suffolk in 2021, and found it to be very beneficial, not only towards my studies but to develop my skills. This helped me secure a placement at Ellisons Solicitors for my ‘Clinical Legal Placement’ module in my second year, in which I experienced how a law firm operated and learnt more in connection with family law. After I completed this, I attended the Ellisons Vacation Scheme in 2023. This led to me applying for a training contract at Ellisons, which I began after I graduated in 2024.

I am very grateful to the Legal Advice Centre for giving me the opportunity to develop my skills, and to have given me numerous networking opportunities throughout my degree.