Forging my own career path – my route into law – Gaia Hinchliffe

Gaia Hinchliffe’s legal career began after she came to Chadwick Lawrence on work experience while studying her A-Levels at Greenhead College. Over the past 6 years she’s been working and studying to become a Legal Executive.

“I met and shadowed Howard Willis, a Partner in the Personal Injury Team, and I was inspired to pursue a career in law. At the end of the week Lisa Bailey, who is Head of HR offered me an Apprenticeship.”

Lisa says: “We saw something special in Gaia during her work placement. She was bright, keen to learn and fit in well with the team, we knew very quickly we wanted to offer her the opportunity.”

“The experience I’ve gained throughout my Apprenticeship has been invaluable which I attribute to working alongside formidable and respected lawyers at the firm with a particular mention to Leanne Franks, Steven Bonfield and Howard.” 

Gaia has spent the past six years working and studying towards her Level 3 and Level 6 CILEX qualification, fully funded by Chadwick Lawrence, and she will qualify as a Legal Executive in 2024. 

Life as a legal Apprentice

Today, Gaia works in the Corporate and Commercial Team in our Leeds office, assisting in all areas of corporate and commercial matters and growing her own portfolio of clients.

“I’ve gained a great deal of knowledge and experience during my Apprenticeship, and I believe I’m ahead of where I would have been if I’d perhaps taken the traditional route of a fulltime undergraduate degree. The traditional route works for many people, but for me, getting first-hand experience has been key.

“In our team we advise on a wide range of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructures and business sales alongside commercial assistance with B2B contracts which includes a bespoke commercial legal retainer service called Link. I thoroughly enjoy the variety of my role. Starting my career this way has also meant I’ve had first-hand experience and exposure to many clients and their diverse needs.  

“What I admire about Chadwick Lawrence is the support I’ve received from the start. This has given me the confidence and assurance that I can build a successful career here. If anyone reading this is thinking about an alternative route into law, I recommend applying for work experience or to one of our schemes. If you’re prepared to work hard and learn, there’s huge potential to succeed”.

Gaia is giving back by visiting her old college and other schools to talk about the opportunities available at Chadwick Lawrence with students interested in a legal career. Gaia is also passionate about her charity work, back in June 2021 along with the support of colleagues, Gaia took to the skies and skydived in aide of Teenage Cancer Trust raising over £11,300 for the charity to support patients at St James’ Hospital in Leeds.

Lisa adds: “Gaia is a great ambassador having come from a work placement and through her CILEX qualification. It’s great that she’s giving back and helping to educate students on the scheme and what life is like as a trainee at Chadwick Lawrence.”

About CILEX

CILEX Training Scheme (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives)

CILEX is the professional association and governing body for Chartered Legal Executive Lawyers, other legal practitioners, and paralegals. It offers people a route to a legal career and becoming a qualified lawyer, without having to have a law degree. But law graduates and graduates with non-law degrees can also qualify as a lawyer through this route.

The CILEX Training Scheme is an alternative route to doing a law degree. This is a legal Apprenticeship, which is a structured Government-run Apprenticeship program which, once completed, qualifies the Apprentice as a Legal Executive.

The training scheme consists of completing CILEX Levels 3 and 6, which consist of various legal modules and examinations. Timescales are flexible according to personal and professional needs. However, on a part-time basis the course usually takes 4 years to complete. 

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