To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we spoke to Sabah Ahmed, a Legal Administrator Apprentice in the Bristol office, about her apprenticeship experience so far.
I started my apprenticeship journey in February 2021 after finishing my A Levels. I was unsure what I wanted to go into but I knew I wanted to be working in a legal environment. It was difficult to find an apprenticeship due to Covid-19 and the various lockdowns but I then came across the Ashfords Apprenticeship and the role sparked an interest so I knew I had to apply.
I started at Ashfords during lockdown and so I had to work remotely. This was something very new to me and a bit of a challenge at first but my team and everyone around me were very helpful and welcoming! I enjoyed learning new skills and widening my current skill set. I think the main thing I enjoyed about my first few months was that every day was different and I was constantly learning new things. I was also able to go into the office 1-2 days a week to help the receptionists with their workload so I picked up more administrative skills.
I have found balancing studying and work easier than I initially thought it would be. I usually take a Friday morning or evening to study but during busier weeks or if I am covering someone, I have to juggle my study time so it isn’t always consistent but it is manageable.
The thing I enjoy the most about the Ashfords apprenticeship route is that it allows me to acquire valuable skills and experience working in a legal environment, whilst also studying for a qualification. The skills and experience I gain will also improve my CV and future employability when I have finished my qualification and I am looking to excel in my career.
I work mainly with the Employment department and I’m exposed to lots of different types of work, from settlement agreements to tribunal cases. One of the main tasks is keeping compliance up to date, which may involve chasing clients for their ID documents or closing files. I am mostly exposed to ARAG clients as opposed to private clients but I do liaise with private clients occasionally to send out invoices or to obtain their ID.
My role has developed significantly since starting my apprenticeship. When I first joined, my day would consist of simple tasks such as scanning/photocopying and raising posting slips but as time has moved on and I have developed the trust of my colleagues, I now take on bigger tasks such as printing bundles, preparing an index for a bundle and raising invoices. I have widened my skill set a lot comparing the start of my apprenticeship to now.
Now I have been able to experience what it is like working in a law firm, it has helped me to gain a clear idea of my career aspirations. Once I finish my apprenticeship, I would like to go on to do a Paralegal Apprenticeship as I enjoy the admin side of things but I would also like to be more involved in the legal aspect of cases.
I like to go for walks with either friends or family. As I spend most of my days in front of a computer, I like to minimise my screen time when I am outside of work. I also enjoy reading or watching a good series on Netflix.
The novel It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover and a comfy bed with a mosquito net!
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