Kayleigh Jones is currently working in house at Terburg DTS as a Graduate Solicitor Apprentice (GSA), being trained and supported by The College of Legal Practice. Today she shares insights into her career so far and her experiences of the GSA.
Can you tell us a little about your journey to the GSA, Kayleigh?
So I started my career in law as many do, with a law degree - around 10 years ago. Many of my peers then went on to qualify, volunteering and starting training contracts and such, but at the time I wasn’t in a position to do that. I needed to find a job and pay the bills! So I found myself working in HR administration. As the years went on, my managing director saw my CV and noticed that I had a degree that I wasn’t really using. He encouraged me to pursue a career rather than just a ‘job’, which I was quite daunted about. I felt I’d missed the boat, but he encouraged me to look with him at the opportunities for growth within the company using my skills and interests, which is where the GSA came in.
So, what made you choose the GSA?
I knew I wanted to stay with my employer. I love the ethos of where I work, and they’re as invested in me as I am in them. So I knew it needed to be some form of work-study hybrid where I could train to qualify as a solicitor. Apprenticeships are already quite familiar to us, as we’re an engineering firm who utilise apprenticeships a lot for our workers. I was pretty familiar with the concepts of the levy, and earning and learning, so it seemed like a great route to go down.
Myself and my employer did some research to see what was out there, and we found the GSA on the UK government website. There were quite a few providers out there, but many had that expectation of a set, ring fenced day a week to study, which really didn’t fit with the small team I worked in. That’s when we found The College of Legal Practice.
The College really impressed us with the flexibility it offered. There was the expectation to study, but no set, ring fenced day you had to do it in - which is what we needed for things to work within the company. I also found that the amount of support available from The College was really clear from the start, which I did feel like I needed as I’d been away from that learning environment for nearly a decade.
How is your employer managing your GSA? Is it going well?
My employer were really on board from the beginning, encouraging me to take the next step in my career, so I knew they’d do everything they could to help me succeed. They’ve been very supportive of my progression and study needs.
Taking on the GSA has been transformative for my role. My manager ensures my work is really adaptable to fit around the new skills I’m learning. The reach of the company is vast, so it’s not just contracts, I’m working on all sorts of different legal areas - going on site, for example, to negotiate terms and settlements.
There is definitely an expectation of accountability there too. I’m in control of my own study and it’s down to me to ring fence my time, which can be tricky as we’re a small team and I don’t want to let anyone down on the work side of things! The course and job do tie together really well, though.
How are you doing with your SQE preparation?
So the SQE preparation has been a challenge - I think most students will agree. My personal circumstances meant I briefly got a little behind with my studies, but thankfully the course is structured to allow me to get back on track as quickly as possible. The course has a daily calendar showing which modules I should focus on each day which helps me see where I need to put effort in to catch up. I also have a session with my coach, Sarah Taylor, every six weeks as a touchpoint to reflect on my progress. While the studying is down to me, there’s that constant reminder of how to keep on track.
Speaking of Sarah - how is your GSA coaching going?
Yes, so Sarah has been an absolutely brilliant coach to help me keep on track. She’s separate from my supervisor, is super understanding and highly flexible to support me. My line manager Robin has had contact with her too, and they work really well together to keep a handle on my progress. Sarah is great at reminding Robin and I what is needed from the employer's side, too. I feel like I’m in safe hands!
How is the study and work balance going?
So with the College there’s a clear flexibility to allow for you to fit work and study into your own schedule. That’s key for a small team like mine - sometimes work comes up and I need to chop and change when I do my designated time - but of course the requirement is still there to complete my studies in my working week. I do find that accountability a new challenge as I care equally about my studies and my team! It’s a continuous journey of ring fencing time wherever possible and really committing to it as much as possible as it’s so easy to get distracted and just do a little more work first. It takes discipline but it’s absolutely manageable with a supportive team around you.
Any final tips for those considering starting the GSA?
I’d say the only way to learn is through doing! While there are clear structures in place for ensuring providers and employers deliver the GSA, it’s still very new, so there will be niggles and teething problems along the way. My advice is go in with enthusiasm, but don’t set excessive expectations of how it will go in terms of the operational side of things. You’ll need to be adaptable and change your mindset as you fit your work and studies and it won’t always be seamless - but you’ll get through it!
A big thank you to Kayleigh for sharing her experiences with us today. If you’re considering following the GSA route to qualifying as a solicitor in the UK, head to our GSA page for information on course structure, content and how to apply. View further content and information around the GSA below.
PM Law's Experience of the GSA Programme