Prettys has long supported the legal careers of talented people in Suffolk, and is proud of the part it plays in helping grow talented individuals of all ages, from paralegals to trainee solicitors to newly qualified solicitors in their chosen legal field.

We are proud to be an independent law firm with our own unique values and culture, and our ethos of homegrown talent enables us to use the skills, knowledge and expertise of our workforce and our culture to:

  • Maintain our consistency of approach
  • Provide succession planning to ensure continued, personal relationships with our clients
  • Grow our business without compromising our culture
  • Shape our future partners to continue our legacy and maintain our reputation as independent trusted advisors

We have a person-centered approach to learning, development, and personal growth. We don’t just encourage the professional development of an individual, but we also encourage the development of a growth mindset and the whole person.

I worked in the Employment Team as a paralegal and as a trainee solicitor. I assisted the solicitors in the team on a variety of matters, and the experience I gained during this time helped me decide to pursue a career as an employment solicitor when I qualified.”

Aimee Riley

Here are just a few stories of solicitors who have qualified and realised their potential with us.

Maria Spencer – Data Protection Solicitor

WHAT ROUTE DID YOU TAKE TO QUALIFY?
My undergraduate degree was in Politics and International Relations. I then decided I wanted to pursue a career in law after graduating and undertook the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). I was offered a training contract at Prettys and completed the LPC alongside my training contract, with support from the firm. I qualified in 2022.

WHAT LED YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC AREA OF LAW?
I started my legal career in 2018 when the law on data protection changed. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to develop my career and learn at the same time.

WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SOLICITOR?
The most challenging part of qualifying was studying and working full time and trying to maintain a healthy work life balance. The nature of the work can often be unpredictable and it’s really important to manage your time effectively.

WHAT ARE THE MOST ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES FOR A SOLICITOR TO POSSESS?
Good communication skills are key to a good client solicitor relationship. Solicitors are required to communicate in all kinds of different situations, often on a client’s behalf so it is also essential to have good listening skills.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A SOLICITOR IN YOUR FIELD?
The rapid nature at which data protection legislation is developing, particularly with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Joseph Jordan – Residential Property Solicitor

WHAT ROUTE DID YOU TAKE TO QUALIFY?

  • LLB Honours Law (2012)
  • Legal Practice Course (2013)
  • Training Contract (2022)
  • Qualified (2023)

WHAT LED YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC AREA OF LAW?
Like many people, drama/tv series sparked an interest in criminal law which is what led me to study law. Working in practice made me realise my interest in Property law. It’s a bit funny that while studying, I was adamant that I would not like property law – however, in practice, I found it a lot more enjoyable.

WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SOLICITOR?
The legal profession is highly competitive and each year more graduates enter applications for training contracts, which adds to the difficulty. So, the most challenging part for me was getting the break and obtaining a training contract. Regardless, I’m grateful for the five years of working within a law firm proving my skills and appreciative of the opportunity that came later to complete my training and qualify.

WHAT ARE THE MOST ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES FOR A SOLICITOR TO POSSESS?
You need patience, attention to detail and strong communication skills.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A SOLICITOR IN YOUR FIELD?
The fast pace of the work and the fantastic group of people I work with.

Aimee Riley – Employment Solicitor

WHAT ROUTE DID YOU TAKE TO QUALIFY?
I followed the ‘traditional’ route to qualifying as a solicitor, where you study the Legal Practice Course (‘LPC’) and complete a training contract (after I had completed an undergraduate law degree).

I joined Prettys in July 2018, as a paralegal in the Commercial Property team. I began studying the LLM LPC combined course in September 2020 part-time while working at Prettys. This course involved roughly 20 hours of studying per week and I attended teaching sessions on Saturdays (online due to COVID-19).

During the LLM LPC course, I moved to work in the Employment Team as a paralegal to further my learning. I finished studying for the LLM LPC in August 2022 and commenced my training contract with the firm in September 2022. I completed three trainee seats during my training contract and qualified as a solicitor on 1 March 2024.

WHAT LED YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC AREA OF LAW?
I worked in the Employment Team as a paralegal and as a trainee solicitor. I assisted the solicitors in the team on a variety of matters, and the experience I gained during this time helped me decide to pursue a career as an employment solicitor when I qualified.

WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SOLICITOR?
Studying the LLM LPC course part-time while working was the most challenging part of the journey to becoming a solicitor. However, I did find that working and studying at the same time was beneficial as lots of the information I was learning on the LLM LPC course helped me at work and vice versa.

WHAT ARE THE MOST ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES FOR A SOLICITOR TO POSSESS?
As a solicitor, you need to have good communication skills, attention to detail, and time management skills.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A SOLICITOR IN YOUR FIELD?
I enjoy the whole variety of matters which I assist on in the Employment team. The department’s work involves both Employment Tribunal claims work and advisory work, assisting clients with a variety of employment matters.

Jemima Lister – Commercial Property Solicitor

WHAT ROUTE DID YOU TAKE TO QUALIFY?
I completed a Law with Management Degree for 4 years. One year studying international law at a Swedish university.

  • I started work as a residential property paralegal and also started my LPC LLM (Legal Practice Course with Masters Degree).
  • Became a trainee at a firm whilst completing my LPC LLM.
  • Completed my LPC LLM and moved to another firm to finish my training contract with a view to qualifying in commercial property. I qualified in 2023.

WHAT LED YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR SPECIFIC AREA OF LAW?
I’ve always been quite analytical and a keen reader, so I always felt more suited to a transactional area of law. My career began in residential property and I loved it but I wanted a challenge, so moved to commercial property. Property is interesting, because when presented with a new property you have to investigate the title, which is almost like a bit of detective work, and drafting can be really interesting.

WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SOLICITOR?
Working full time as a paralegal/trainee solicitor whilst also doing the LPC LLM. I would work 5 days a week, have lectures all of Saturday and then still have to find time to study in between (along with maintaining my personal life). It was hard to balance my time and the course was a lot more challenging than my degree.

WHAT ARE THE MOST ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES FOR A SOLICITOR TO POSSESS?
Attention to detail, good client manners and care, analytical thinking and a passion for the field!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A SOLICITOR IN YOUR FIELD?
I enjoy the variety of work, every property and transaction is different. Commercial Property isn’t just legal work, you also have to have a “commercial hat” on and put a lot of thought into the bigger picture of the transaction and the commercial implications on businesses. A lot of the time clients will have an idea in their head of what they want but look to you to advice on how to achieve this.

“I have been with Prettys for less than 2 months, yet I have a long and varied past career where I have worked in, and touched upon, very many different organisations, from start-ups to very large international corporations. Prettys is a great place to work, the team is welcoming, the drive to succeed is evident, the direction is clear and the will to do things right shines through. It’s early days yet, but I can see that Prettys is and will continue to be an employer of choice.” Best Employers Survey 2023

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