Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
Hi, I’m Charlotte! I studied Philosophy and Economics at the University of Bristol before completing my PGDL this year. I chose to study this degree because I enjoyed the breadth of both knowledge and skills I developed, which have given me a strong foundation for a career in city law.
Philosophy has provided me with an understanding of logic, argument formation and how details fit into a ‘bigger picture’, whilst Economics has been useful for enhancing my commercial awareness, helping me to grasp concepts quickly in Goodwin’s field of work.
After graduating, I enrolled in a course in Madrid to learn Spanish. I love languages and learning more about different cultures! I’m quite sporty – during my time at Bristol I played for the university hockey club and coached. I was also the General Secretary of my university’s law club.
I completed the 2024 Summer Vacation Scheme, following which I was offered a September 2026 training contract. I am currently working as a paralegal at Goodwin in the Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution team.
What inspired you to apply for the trainee solicitor programme at Goodwin?
There are three key factors which distinguish Goodwin. Firstly, the type of work offered at the firm is specific to its vision and business strategy. Goodwin focuses on several key sectors: life sciences, private equity, real estate, financial services and technology. Goodwin’s sector-focused approach means its lawyers truly understand what a client in that industry needs. These sectors also interact heavily with market and social changes, with the TLS (tech and life sciences) space changing immensely. A career in any of these sectors would be dynamic and requires consistent adaptation and learning, even at the most senior level.
Secondly, the firm has a ‘US training style’, meaning trainees are expected to take on more responsibility from an earlier stage. I enjoy a practical, hands-on learning style and feel that this would better set me up to take on an associate role upon qualification.
Finally, the firm has an open and collaborative culture (which I talk about in more detail below). The calibre of work and training, paired with the firm’s culture stood out to me as unique to Goodwin.
What has been the single most important thing you learnt so far in your journey in law?
As cliché as it may sound, I think it is important to remember what makes you unique! Every lawyer I have met has a different background, journey into law, and qualities. It’s important to be someone keen to learn, and who has a real interest in a legal career to be successful in trainee recruitment cycles, but there is no one type of person who would make a great lawyer. Remember what makes you unique and why your personal background, qualities and skills make you a great candidate. Some advice I received for interviews/vacation schemes is to pick 3 to 5 things you want people to notice in you and demonstrate it.
What do you find most interesting about the legal sector/Goodwin?
In the TLS practice, Goodwin helps start up clients with its pre-seed and seed funding rounds, attracting investors and providing vital services to their growth. Some of these innovative ideas in medical technology and pharmaceuticals have the potential to change health and lives for the better.
Goodwin’s legal services are extremely important for these clients in the Venture Capital sphere, to gain traction and funding without which they would be likely to fail. Offering services to clients at this level is a more unique strategy for Goodwin. The firm then builds strong relations with these clients and retains them throughout its growth. For example, since Moderna was founded in 2010, it has been teamed with Goodwin for its legal services.
Not only is this interesting because of the areas of law engaged, but it demonstrates the importance of business strategy and commercial understanding within law firms.
What is the culture of Goodwin like?
People at the firm are open and the sense of team is prevalent. To me, this is very important as a career in law will be challenging. Working at a firm like Goodwin, where there is a real sense of community and camaraderie provides the opportunity to build a network at the firm and learn from your peers. I felt I had integrated into the Goodwin community within the vacation scheme alone. I think this aspect is vital for career development for me personally, as being part of a close-knit team is something I really enjoy.
As Goodwin is relatively newer to the London market than its competitors, and has seen huge growth within the last decade, the firm has an exciting energy to it. I felt a unique ‘buzz’ at in the firm’s offices during the vacation scheme. Everyone is excited to be onboard of Goodwin’s journey as it continues to expand in the UK market, creating a sense of entrepreneurial spirit. Many of Goodwin’s UK lawyers began their careers at other firms or in different industries, so everyone has personal experiences to draw upon when working on matters together.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is an important part of the firm’s culture and has certainly been emphasised. Goodwin is proactive about finding ways to be at the forefront of developing DE&I strategies to truly attract, retain and recognise diverse talent. People have honest and open conversations; mentoring at the firm goes beyond career development and is also pastoral. These conversations are possible because of the openness in the firm’s culture. The Sancroft office lay out also means that a trainee or junior associate shares an office with a senior associate or partner. Not only is this great for career development, but it also removes elements of social hierarchy and fosters collaboration.
How did you find your vacation scheme experience?
I really enjoyed my time on the 2024 Summer Vacation Scheme. The week was quite busy, which meant I got a lot out of it! I was placed in Private Investment Funds (PIF), which is a big practice in the firm, and interacts with other practices, such as Private Equity and Tax. This seat gave me a good oversight of work at Goodwin. I had both a trainee buddy and supervisor in PIF, who were helpful at giving advice and gave me real tasks for clients. It was great to get hands-on experience and assist the team.
Being in the firm’s new offices in Sancroft was a huge benefit – there was an excellent opportunity to meet people from across the firm and learn about what they do (as well as the offices being very cool!). People at Goodwin are friendly, and willing to help one another, which meant I learned a lot in my week at the firm. I had coffee catch ups with solicitors in other practices which really helped me to learn about Goodwin’s work alongside practice area presentations. There were several socials on the vac scheme too, which were great to get to know people at Goodwin and the other vacation schemers- we had a sip and paint session and had a lot of fun at the F1 Arcade!