Stephenson Harwood solicitor Rabia Younus on the transformation from trainee to qualified lawyer
Many of you will have recently received the long-awaited, extremely valuable (and very expensive!) piece of paper known as a practising certificate – proof that you are finally qualified to practise as a solicitor. However, if you were expecting some earthshaking feeling or sudden enlightenment on the mysterious and murky depths of the law, I am afraid you’ll have been disappointed. What you will progressively sense, though, is the subtle yet significant transformation of your role within your firm. I qualified in the commercial litigation group at Stephenson Harwood in March this year. Seven months’ post-qualification, and the differences between life as a trainee and a newly-qualified solicitor (NQ) are becoming increasingly apparent.
