Fieldfisher instantly stood out to me when researching apprenticeships, I had looked into their values and what they do as well as reviews that had been given from former employees, all of which were very positive. The recruitment process and assessment centre were planned well and overall, it was a smooth, organised process. Since joining my role as an HR Apprentice within Fieldfisher I have developed many new skills and qualities. These vary from increase in confidence, team working skills, time management and communication. The ACE scheme is a great way to learn about your desired interest as well as putting newly gained knowledge into practice. I have been extremely welcomed by anyone I have come across within my role and have developed a great working relationship with all of my team. I have had the opportunity to sit in on meetings and complete relevant tasks that give me a wider knowledge of my role and Fieldfisher as a whole. Within my HR Apprenticeship I get to rotate seats every 6 months all of which allow me to see HR from a different perspective. Fieldfisher offer various schemes and activities to be involved in, which is a great way of getting to know new people and fellow apprentices. These include things like the Hive, charity events, social events and team activities for specific occasions.

I began my ACE apprenticeship in Legal Support Services in September, and I couldn't recommend it enough to those considering working in this sector. With this being an earn-while-you-learn position, I have been lucky to benefit from gaining hands-on experience in different areas across Legal Support Services, primarily in Document Production and Practice Administration, and really getting to find out first-hand what is required in these roles. I appreciate how I am able to take on an active role in the business, with the work-to-study ratio being 80:20, as I can properly contribute in my role as opposed to an entirely study-based course. I have found that there is always something new to learn in this apprenticeship; be it in my Business Administration course with the Belfast MET or in day-to-day life, as myself and my colleagues constantly have opportunities to learn how to do new tasks and learn processes voluntarily from the online workshops offered by Fieldfisher. In this way, it's easy to learn new skills even in areas that we might not encounter frequently in our job roles. In the course itself, I have also benefited from learning about a range of topics, from negotiation skills in the workplace to how to effectively create and carry out a presentation. The apprenticeship has also helped me naturally improve some key skills, like written and verbal communication, time management, leadership skills and even helping me increase my typed words-per-minute. The apprenticeship also has given me various opportunities to get to know people in the Belfast office and to generally improve my people skills, as I have joined the social committee within the Practice Admin team (we're currently organising our first official event!) and there are also different clubs offered, generally in association with The Hive, which is the central hub for organising clubs and social events within Fieldfisher. I have been introduced to the best working atmosphere in an office that I've ever encountered, with a group of hardworking, helpful and inclusive colleagues that have done nothing but make me feel welcome.

I am thoroughly enjoying my Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability apprenticeship. When researching apprenticeships after college and realising University wasn't for me. Fieldfisher stood out to me for its great reputation and culture, it was one of the few law firms to offer my course. I knew it would be a place I could start my career and pursue my interest and passion for corporate responsibility in a professional setting. I have learnt so much already, from data analysis to events management to understanding the intricacies of a law firm. I have had the opportunity to develop key skills in verbal and written communication for internal and external audiences and organisation skills. The work to study balance is working amazing for me; I have been able to manage my time effectively, and the apprenticeship sessions have leant themselves well to Fieldfisher tasks. The supportive environment here has been incredible. Everyone at the firm has welcomed me with open arms. I can't wait to see what the rest of this apprenticeship brings!