Trainee Solicitor, Sam Perry, discusses his experience of training with Furley Page

Sam Perry

Solicitor

sp@furleypage.co.uk 01634 828277

View bio

April 25, 2022

Categories Graduate recruitment

1. What made you decide Furley Page was the best place to pursue your training?

I chose to apply to Furley Page due to the firm’s reputation for providing excellent client service and expertise in a variety of practice areas. Furley Page is well-established in the region and has built lasting relationships with clients, but is also constantly growing and looking to the future to ensure its continued success.

Furley Page values its trainees and trusts them with a high level of responsibility and client interaction right from the start of the training contract. I wanted to apply to a firm which provides a supportive environment in which to learn and develop, and it was clear from my research that Furley Page would offer that.

2. What has been your overriding impression of the training programme at Furley Page?

The training programme at Furley Page has certainly lived up to my expectations, both in terms of the legal work I have been exposed to and the support I have been given. I have always found fee earners and partners who I have worked with to be extremely knowledgeable and willing to share their expertise.

The work I have done so far has been challenging, yet also interesting and varied. I have always felt comfortable approaching colleagues for advice and guidance; there is a real sense of teamwork and openness at Furley Page and I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of that.

3. What has been your best experience during your training programme?

Recently, I attended counsel’s chambers in London with our client and the fee earner dealing with the matter. I had the chance to take notes during the meeting and listen to the barrister’s expert opinion. Counsel’s advice to us and the client was communicated in a way that was easy to understand, despite the complexity of the issues raised. This is a skill I will look to develop myself as I continue my training, for example when drafting advice letters to clients. It was also a fantastic opportunity for me to improve my understanding of the specific points of law involved in the case, namely the availability of exemptions and reliefs from inheritance tax.

4. What skills do you think are essential to be a successful lawyer?

In my opinion one of the most important skills for a successful lawyer is the ability to adapt to communicate effectively with different types of people, whether they be clients or fellow professionals. In my Private Client seat I found that it was particularly important to be personable and have a genuine interest in our clients, as we were often helping them at very challenging times in their lives.

It goes without saying that a successful lawyer must be well-organised, self-motivated and able to prioritise well. However, the human side of the job should not be underestimated and it is important to remember that we can make a real, positive difference for our clients. I think this is part of the culture at Furley Page, as we all work well together in our individual teams and between departments to meet our clients’ needs.

5. What advice would you give anybody looking to train as a solicitor?

I would say that my main piece of advice to anybody looking to train as a solicitor would be to get as much relevant work experience as possible before making the application for a training contract. My personal experiences have involved working at a high street firm specialising in criminal law during university holidays. I also worked as a Legal Assistant for a year after graduating before joining Furley Page. These roles gave me an insight into how different firms operate and allowed me to develop the interpersonal skills which I now find essential as a trainee solicitor.

Find out more about becoming a Trainee Solicitor with Furley Page >>