Holly Lafferty's dedication and hard work during her summer placement at Miller Samuel Hill Brown have paid off in the most remarkable way. She has been offered a trainee solicitor position with the firm, set to commence in 2024. Her journey, as documented through her blog, serves as an inspiration to all those who aspire to excel in the law.
After finishing your placement with us, what motivated you to pursue a training contract with Miller Samuel Hill Brown?
From the beginning of my undergraduate degree in 2019, Miller Samuel Hill Brown was on my radar. I knew of the firm from LinkedIn and was aware of their stellar reputation in the legal realm. I applied for the summer placement programme in my third year of my LLB and was delighted when I received an email inviting me to immerse myself into the workings of the firm for one week. The placement solidified and exceeded my expectations of the firm. I was welcomed by the entire firm, introduced to each colleague, and really felt like part of the team. The placement, much like the seating structure of the Traineeship, allowed me to explore many of MSHB’s core practice areas from commercial property, employment law, family law, licensing and litigation, to name a few. I admired the firm's friendly approach and their ability to ensure strong relationships with each client. During my placement I was able to grasp an appreciation for the day-to-day operations of the firm and build a rapport with the team. I admire the closeness of the team and the consistent involvement from all partners closely mentoring the trainees. I believe the structure of the traineeship within Miller Samuel Hill Brown is perfectly aligned to me as the seat rotation, much like the work experience programme, would allow me to gain expertise in various practice areas. It was evident to me from my placement that MSHB is more than a workplace, it was an entire team dedicated to fulfilling both its clients and social responsibilities, hosting bake sales, sponsored walks and many challenges for charities. The only thing I wished was that I had done my work experience a week later so that I could have enjoyed some goodies from the bake sale! I quickly realised that I never wanted my week placement to end. As soon as I finished my week, I was emailing the firm to ask if I could come back next summer. It was upon completion of my summer placement that I realised it would be an honour to grow within such a supportive and professional firm so I applied for the Traineeship 2024 post and I am excited to embark on my new adventure under such incredible guidance.
Can you describe your journey from being a summer placement student to becoming a trainee solicitor?
Following my summer placement with MSHB I found a new motivation to complete my undergraduate degree. I was motivated to immerse myself in as many opportunities as possible to prepare me for my Traineeship with MSHB. Since my summer placement I have opted to continuously improve my legal knowledge, following judgements and key legal developments. I am now a keen reader of the MSHB blogs.
Could you share any tips for students interested in seeking a summer placement opportunity?
Do it! Apply! It can be daunting stepping foot into a new environment, with new people. Be confident, enthusiastic and most importantly be yourself. I would say the most important tip is to build a rapport with your peers and make connections. Find people with similar values, who you admire and take their advice. Your peers should be your own support group, they will mould your experience and career. Your colleagues will help you to navigate difficult scenarios and assist you when embarking on new territory in your career, so make a positive impact on your peers and supervisors.
As for what's next, we are excited to hear about your future plans.
Having recently graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with an upper second class Law LLB (Hons) with Risk degree, I am thrilled to be undertaking the next step in my legal career at Strathclyde University. I am excited to immerse myself into this new adventure completing my Diploma in Professional and Legal Practice. Following completion of my Diploma in spring 2024, I would love to travel and experience new cultures before commencing my legal career with Miller Samuel Hill Brown solicitors in December 2024. I plan to continue enhancing my transferable skills throughout my Diploma and throughout my Traineeship. With the guidance of such an innovative and forward-thinking company such as MSHB, I could see myself becoming a high-performing employee within this organisation, managing my own workloads, and surpassing my targets.
The traineeship at MSHB has been designed to give trainees experience in at least three different departments over two years and work directly alongside experienced practitioners for clients varying from individuals to Public Limited Companies.
If you have been inspired by Holly and would like to apply for a summer placement or traineeship, please submit your CV and a covering letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
