For Social Mobility Day, we spoke to Zoe O'Regan about their experience as a paralegal apprentice at Ashfords — from moving to a new city and stepping into full-time work at 18, to finding confidence, community, and a future in law.
I've always had a strong sense of justice and been interested in law, so I chose to complete an A-Level in law, to help me decide whether it was something I definitely wanted to pursue. It became my favourite subject and I decided that I wanted to continue to study it after sixth from. I was slightly fearful as I knew it could be a very competitive job market and hard to stand out amongst other graduates. However, I then found out about legal apprenticeships. It felt like it was a no-brainer to do a legal apprenticeship as this meant I could get hands-on experience and grow a network, all whilst gaining a qualification.
I applied to Ashfords and was successful in my application, and I've really enjoyed my apprenticeship so far. I assist experienced fee earners daily whilst also running my own caseload, have been able to study multiple modules at university and have had the chance to participate in fundraising and volunteering activities.
Firstly, living in Wales, I felt my options were limited. The Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship is funded, however I was concerned about how I would continue to grow my career after this. This is why I chose to start my legal career in Bristol, so that after I complete my paralegal apprenticeship, I have the choice to continue the apprenticeship route at a firm who have supported me so far. I'm still grateful that I made this choice, as I have enjoyed exploring a new city and getting to know new people, rather than sticking to the comfort of home!
Another challenge I faced was believing that to be successful in the legal-field, you need to have connections from the outset. I was worried that I didn’t know anyone who worked at a law firm and that this would restrict my opportunities and ability to work in law. I quickly learned that hard work is just as important and that you can achieve anything you put your mind to, meaning this wouldn’t affect my ability to work in law. Since starting my apprenticeship, I have been presented with multiple opportunities to network and have grown my confidence, allowing me to put myself out there and grow my network.
When I was applying for my apprenticeship, I worried that I had a lack of experience. I only had a retail job and couldn’t afford to volunteer, rather complete paid work. I was scared this would limit me against other candidates however reflecting on the skills I had learnt from my retail role, as well as a belief in myself and my ability to adapt, I knew I was worthy of my role. I now believe that it doesn’t matter what your background is, as long as you are able to reflect on what you have learnt from your experiences.
I would advise them to follow their gut feeling. I knew the structure of the ‘traditional’ university route was not suitable for my learning style and I was eager to throw myself in the deep end. Although it can be scary working at a law firm from a young age, if something does not scare you, it's unlikely to make you grow. I have experienced a huge amount of self-development as I have had to put myself in situations that I feel uncomfortable in, like attending networking events, however I'm always grateful that I have these opportunities available. I wouldn't have been able to afford to support myself at university and choosing the apprenticeship route has allowed me to enjoy personal experiences, like travelling and seeing my favourite artists at concerts. One common misconception is that if you complete an apprenticeship, you will not have a social life. Although I dedicate a lot of my time to my job and study, I've still been able to maintain strong relationships with my friends and family.
Yes, definitely. I grew up in a single parent household and was on free-school meals during secondary school so felt that maybe I wouldn’t ‘fit the mould’ of what a law firm would be looking for. I was also worried that I could be stereotyped or underestimated due to my age, starting full time work at 18. Thankfully, since I have started working at Ashfords, I no longer have these beliefs. Spending time with other young team members means I have a strong support network and someone to speak to when I feel like an outsider. I rely heavily on my cohort as it's nice to have someone who is in the same position as you and understands what challenges you may face during your role. At Ashfords, although everyone has different backgrounds, we all share a passion for our roles and the same core values. Appreciating that your background doesn't define who you are, has also helped me overcome that ‘outsider feeling’.
At Ashfords, we aim to ensure all our people, regardless of background, feel included, supported, and have equal opportunities to thrive in their careers. We offer a range of apprenticeships across both our legal and business support teams to allow you to earn a qualification alongside learning on the job. We understand that university is not always the right choice, and apprenticeships offer a fantastic alternative to kick-starting a successful career.
