Interview With An Apprentice – Setara Blair

From Apprentice to full-time member of the team – we discuss the journey experienced by one of our recruits who joined us via the workplace apprenticeship scheme.

We have recruited some brilliant team members from every background imaginable, so we thought it would be nice to shed some light on a colleague who entered the firm as an apprentice, allowing them to share their experiences with us and future potential applicants.

What stage are you currently at in your apprenticeship?

I finished my apprenticeship in March 2021.

What made you apply to Oakwood Solicitors?

I knew that sixth form wasn’t for me, but I didn’t know what else I could do. I didn’t know what an apprenticeship was at the time, so I had to do some research.

I saw the job vacancy for Oakwood, and it sounded very interesting and I knew it was a good opportunity for me to gain some experience in law and see where it would take me in the future.

What are some of the best things about your job?

The best thing about my job is probably that every day is so different! There’s never a dull day at Oakwood I am always speaking to different people and hearing their stories, but I must say the people in my team make my time here even better. We always manage to laugh no matter what and support each other.

Why did you decide to stay after your apprenticeship finished?

I decided to stay at Oakwood Solicitors because there is honestly no place I’d rather work. I enjoy my job and have met some of the best people, this is my first job and I’ve learnt so much in my time here.

When I first started I didn’t have much confidence I was nervous and worried that I wouldn’t be good enough but that has all changed now I am very confident and I am proud of how far I have come.

Did you feel supported by your mentor at Oakwood?

Yes, I always felt supported and I knew if I ever needed help, I could call or email my mentor and frequently she would drop into the office to see how I was doing. I could speak to her about anything and knew she would always do her best to support me.

What key advice would you give to apprentice applicants?

Don’t worry about not knowing what you want to do. Some people know what they want to do career wise and some don’t and that’s okay! Just see it as an opportunity to learn something and an apprentice will always benefit you in the future.

You can get hands on experience and come out with a qualification and when you do complete your apprenticeship you could even progress in your workplace.

What is something you have learnt about yourself during your apprenticeship?

I have learnt that with a little bit of confidence I can do anything!  I have also learnt that I can work in a fast pace environment and I am capable of more than I thought.

What was the most difficult aspect of your apprenticeship?

The most difficult thing was probably learning everyone’s name, where they sat and what department they were in. I remember thinking I was never going to learn who all these people are but if I ever got stuck I could just ask a colleague and they would help me.

I also had a map of the buildings that showed who sat where and what floor they were on that was a big help and it didn’t take me that long to learn it was actually quite easy!

What are the next steps for you?

Right now, I’m not sure exactly what it is I want to do but I’m not pressuring myself to figure it out right now. I am just taking each day as it comes and enjoying my time here.

I learn something new every day and know that there are many opportunities within the firm if I do want to go further.

Why should apprentices apply to Oakwood?

It is a great opportunity! If you want to get some experience within a law firm and possibly progress on to different departments this would be a very good job for you.

You will be working towards a qualification that will benefit you in the future. There are loads of great people here and we would love you to join the firm!

Check out our current job vacancies

We offer jobs for all skill and experience levels including assistants, apprentices and new graduates. You can view our regularly-updated list of vacancies here and apply online, or call 0113 200 9720 for further information.