Interview with Lucy Tootill
As Lucy approaches the second year of her Training Contract, we caught up with her to find out how she's settled in to life at Wake Smith and what the stand out moments are from her learning experience so far...
What sets Wake Smith Solicitors apart from other law firms when it comes to training contracts?
What Wake Smith has to offer is a really great learning experience amongst a group of expert lawyers who are more than willing to encourage you on your training contract journey.
As a trainee you will have direct access not just to associates, but also to directors, and that is so invaluable for your learning. When it comes to training, there really is no such thing as a stupid question and you are encouraged to ask questions in order to learn. For me, the fact that I have such direct access to these directors and the years of experience they have is so valuable. It also helps you look to the future and start to think about the kind of lawyer you want to be post-qualification.
What also really appealed to me about Wake Smith is the city centre location. We’re centrally located which means we’re close to other firms of solicitors, accountants and corporate finance houses. Importantly, we are also close to our clients. It feels like we are really in the heart of the action and this was one of the many reasons why I applied.
What has been your most memorable moment to date?
One of the most memorable moments for me so far has probably been our annual Wake Smith Christmas Lunch Club. Every year we invite long standing clients, banks and accountants and friends of the firm to join us at a local venue for a day of food, drinks, networking and festive cheer. Lunch Club is a way of the firm saying thank you to those key clients and professional contacts who have been with us throughout the years. As trainees, you will also be invited, and you play a role in helping to make the event run as seamlessly as possible.
As a first-year trainee, it really helps you to settle in and meet people outside of your immediate team, as well as bond with your fellow trainees.
It felt really rewarding to be part of something that has such a wider impact on the firm. As a trainee, you are encouraged to go out there and network and get involved in marketing opportunities, and that's a really great introduction. It's just a really, really nice event to be a part of.
What has been your most valuable experience so far?
I’ve had a lot of exposure to different matters, taking both really active roles, and also supporting roles. You’re encouraged to get involved with everything. Every single matter you'll work on is hands-on.
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is to essentially ‘bring my own opinion to the table’. This helped me to recognise that as a lawyer, you're expected to form your own opinion, and you need to have the belief and conviction in yourself to really bring your value to the table, no matter what your role is. That's really going to help to shape who I will ultimately become as a lawyer and to learn that on your training experience and be supported to do so is really invaluable.
What area of law are you hoping to go in to, has this changed since starting your training contract?
I have always been quite undecided about what area of law I want to go into. I have quite a different background, having come from a non-law undergraduate degree (I studied English Literature) and working in financial services before entering into law at a later point, rather than through a more traditional route. This has given me a variety of experiences.
I am currently in corporate commercial, but I'm also looking at leaning into private client as an area of interest. So rather than being undecided in where I want to go, I prefer to view it more as keeping my options open.
What’s great about Wake Smith is you have the opportunity to explore your options, and you are supported to make that move, and to tap into the wealth of knowledge of the different areas available to you.
What other opportunities does Wake Smith Solicitors offer?
At Wake Smith you're encouraged to get involved in lots of wider networking activities and groups and hubs. You're really encouraged to go out there and grow, not just the firm's profile, but your own profile in the city.
We also have our own networking group called Link, which I've been involved with since the start of my training contract. That is really helping me to build those sorts of long-lasting relationships that will hopefully stay with me throughout the rest of my career.
What are your goals for the next 12 months of your training contract?
As I enter my second year as a trainee, my goals are to continue to broaden and grow my profile in Sheffield by attending more networking events, really getting involved with our next Link event and growing my own profile within the firm. I really want to continue to develop my knowledge base and lock into the different aspects that I've not picked up yet.
The learning never stops and that's what really pushed me into being a lawyer, because I always wanted a career where I could continue to grow and face new challenges, and Wake Smith really offers that environment.
What are your top tips for applying for a training contract?
If you're thinking of applying for training contracts, my top three tips are:
- Make sure that your application stands out. At Wake Smith we're not just focused purely on academia. What can really set you apart is your personality. What we're interested in is making sure that you are going to be the right fit for our firm and that you encapsulate our values.
- Check it, check it and check it again. There are always areas to improve an application, work on interview skills and really push yourself, and your experience, out there. Legal and non-legal, it all culminates in who you are and what you have to bring as a candidate and as a trainee.
- Make sure that you have researched the firm inside and out. Know our values, know the legal services we offer, research our charity work and have an understanding of where we stand in the region. This will show that you're really considering not just what you see on the website, but taking that extra step to really look into what we do at and what makes us stand out.
Click here to learn more about careers at Wake Smith, and our Training Contract Programme
Published 05/09/2025