The road less travelled

Hamza is a Solicitor Apprentice working within the Corporate Transaction teams and is one of four individuals selected for our first Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme in 2021.

Apprenticeships facilitate on-the-job studying without incurring the costs of university and can remove the risks associated with changes in the jobs market and future competition. The London solicitor programme takes place over six years, with apprentices awarded a LLB on completion.

Law was never on the cards initially for Hamza, instead he was focused on medicine as a career path, but after a number of work placements during sixth form, Hamza felt something was missing. Following a handful of insight days and work placements at various law firms, a new path towards law emerged. Never the one to do things ‘traditionally’, Hamza opted to take the plunge and apply for Norton Rose Fulbright’s newly launched Solicitor Apprentice Scheme.

Jumping right into work and getting hands on experience has been invaluable in allowing Hamza to see the full picture of what being a lawyer means. “I think the commercial aspect of being a lawyer is something that you learn naturally by being ‘out in the field’. By joining the profession so early and so young, without having any pre-conceived concepts, you get to appreciate and absorb a lot more. In particular, Hamza highlights the essential insights you can absorb by being present, particularly when it comes to working with clients and what that looks like in practice. “You're like clay, ready to be moulded. You learn directly from partners, seeing how they tackle the legal elements but also how they manage client relations and tailor that approach with the clients’ business aims and strategy at the forefront.”

Starting a career early and being one of the first to go down an alternative route is not without its drawbacks, “there can be an initial sense of apprehension, isolation and imposter syndrome to begin with. Through the usual university route, there is a type of in built community and social aspect – I did wonder how that was going to look for me.” Luckily for Hamza, this hasn’t been something he has struggled with, with the full support of the firm. “NRF have been really great on this front. With team days and networking events, I have found the firm to be very supportive in fostering a sense of community – both within the firm and with other apprentices across the industry”.

That support is not just limited to those who Hamza works with in the London office, but extends to our wider global footprint “the global presence is really felt, even as an individual in the firm. Knowing the fact that I can casually reach out to someone that's in Tokyo, and they're willing to mentor me, they're willing to have sessions every two weeks, when it's later in the evening their time. It really makes you feel appreciated, and really makes you feel valued at the firm.”

With Hamza coming up to the end of his first year of his six year journey, he reflects on his development so far, in particular the approach from partners he has worked with. “On some deals or cases there's just you and a partner, so you're getting so much experience and it's not them spoon feeding you, it's not them holding your hands, it’s them actually treating you like an adult - perhaps with more years of experience than you actually have at the time. This style and approach culminated in one of the most impactful and defining aspects of Hamza’s experience so far – being able to really see yourself in your work. “I really appreciate that they will critically analyse your work, giving insight and guidance on where you need to improve and why. That approach is so rewarding when you see the final result and can say ‘I did that’.”