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Here is the next installment in our "A Week In The Life Of" series!

Hello! What is your name and where are you from?

Hello, my name is Caret and I'm from Scarborough. 

Where do you work and what is your job?

I am a Solicitor for Ryedale District Council. 

Please can you tell us a little more about where you work and the industry it is in?

Ryedale District Council is a Local Authority so therefore I work in the public sector in legal. 

What is a typical day like in your job?

Extremely varied. I work for all of the officers and councillors who work in the Council so although I do not work with many external clients, I act for anyone who needs my help within the Council. The different departments are Planning, Housing, Customer Services, Democratic Services, Street Scene, and Community so I can be asked to advise on anything in any of these areas, both contentious and non-contentious.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The variety and pace is good. I work with a really good team so that is great too as there are over 100 people in the building so there are plenty of people to gain knowledge and ideas from.

Did you go to college or university? If so, what did you study and where?

I went to Scarborough Sixth Form for A levels Law, Psychology, and English Language and then I went to Sheffield University doing Law and Criminology LLB. I then went to The College of Law York to study for my Practising Certificate to become a Solicitor.

Why did you choose to study this subject/s?

My Grandad and Mum were in the Police so I thought the Criminology aspect would interest me more, but soon found that I preferred Law.

Did you complete any other post-16 qualifications? 

As well as the qualifications mentioned above, I had to do a 2-year Training Contract to fully qualify as a Solicitor. 

How has the COVID-19 lockdown affected your job?

I now work from home all of the time (although I would like to return to the office!) We conduct all of our work over MS Teams, so I have a Teams call in the morning with my immediate team, and then contact others as required on either Teams, phone, or email.

Please can you tell us about your "Career Journey"?

I realised as soon as I started University that if you want to be a Solicitor you have to gain a lot of experience to stand out. Therefore all throughout University I went on different work placements in law firms and joined voluntary legal programmes such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Pro Bono work. We also did mock trial competitions so I did those to gain experience. In the summer holidays I worked at local law firms as a secretary/assistant to try and learn as much as I could about the profession. You can also attend court as a member of the public so I went to court to see how it operated.

What would be your one piece of advice for someone who is looking into the job sector you work in?

When you get to College and University, get as involved as you can. Showing enthusiasm in extra-curricular activities will make you stand out, and many of them relate to law, such as attending drama classes will give many transferable skills. When you get to University do the mock trials and attend careers fairs to meet law firm representatives, and use lawcareers.net to apply for summer work placements.

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