Amy H - Jisc

Tell us more about your experience

I decided to take the apprenticeship route into Law as not only does it allow me to study but also gain valuable work experience within the legal sector. The practical skills I develop on the job will be beneficial when I come to qualify as a solicitor and will allow me to understand what is needed for me to excel within my role. Throughout the apprenticeship, I have and will continue to benefit from the encouragement and support of my team and employer. I have had access to comprehensive training, support and mentors to offer additional help and resources required to improve my skills. On top of this, I have created a network with other apprentices where we are able to share experiences and support one another.

I would definitely recommend to anyone who is considering an apprenticeship to jump at the opportunity and be willing to get involved in different things within your day-to-day role to progress as far as possible. I have had support from not just my team but the company as a whole in terms of promoting apprenticeships and being able to attend events and conferences. This has really helped with raising profile in the company and in the legal sector. On a day-to-day basis, I work alongside other senior team members on various areas of legal work, including strategic work and contract drafting. I attend a lot of meetings around various pieces of work or team related meetings. The opportunity to work at Jisc as part of my Apprenticeship so far has been really interesting as I have been to get experience in cutting edge legal work in relation to digital solutions and data.

I have had continuous support from Jisc as my employer, especially through the apprenticeship cohort that we have at Jisc. This has allowed me to connect and build friendships with other apprentices. My team have always pushed me to progress throughout my apprenticeship and support when necessary. The University of Law as my training provider have always supported me with my academic studies, with extended support throughout the pandemic.

The biggest challenge in my apprenticeship currently was having to work and study through the pandemic. This resulted in a lot of remote studying without any face-to-face interaction which at times was not easy. This has improved massively since we have come out of the pandemic and the support has been better than ever.

The highlight of my apprenticeship in the last 5 years would be having the opportunity to gain valuable work experience alongside studying for my degree. This has allowed me to raise profile, understand professional work in the legal sector and build on my academic knowledge.