We caught up with Sarika, a first-year trainee at Watson Farley & Williams (WFW). In this interview she discusses WFW's welcoming culture and provides top tips for future applicants.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I studied Law with International Legal Studies at the University of Southampton, with a year abroad in Singapore. I then completed my LPC at the University of Law and worked as a paralegal for two years.
What is your role and how long have you been at WF&W?
I am currently a first-year trainee at WFW, sitting in Dispute Resolution.
What inspired you to apply to become a trainee at WF&W?
I studied maritime law in my degree and thought WFW would be a good fit as it has a strong focus on the maritime sector. The firm’s six seat rotation is also unique, so this attracted me to the firm as it provides more variety in the training contract. The guaranteed international secondment was also a big draw as I love travelling.
What has been the single most important thing you’ve learned so far as a trainee?
To always ask questions if you are unsure of a task, even if they seem silly.
What would a ‘normal’ day look like for you?
I normally start the day by checking my emails and prioritising my work for the day. I’m currently sitting in the real estate litigation team which deals with a variety of landlord and tenant disputes, as well as some insolvency matters. Currently, I am involved with various actions for the recovery of rent, so have been drafting claim forms and particulars of claim. Litigation also tends to involve research tasks, and so at the moment I’m drafting a note on duties in relation to asbestos. I usually end the day with making a to-do list for the next day.
What aspect of the legal industry do you find the most interesting?
I enjoy the variety of the legal industry. There are so many different areas and specialisations, so you’ll always be able to find an area which suits you.
What is the company culture like at WF&W?
WFW is a genuinely friendly and welcoming firm. Starting the training contract virtually has been challenging as you miss out on the day-to-day interactions, but everyone has made a lot of effort to ensure we are in contact with our team and feel comfortable to reach out to people virtually.
How important is diversity to you and what is WF&W doing in this space at the moment?
Diversity is incredibly important to me, so I have been happy to see that WFW has various initiatives such as Global D&I week and various networking groups within the firm.
Finally, any tips for anyone who’d like to apply for a role at WF&W?
Always try and find out as much as possible about the firm. WFW has a really clear sector focus so try and research the legal developments in these areas.
Interested in a career with WFW? To find out more and view their current opportunities - click here.