Catching up with Trainee Solicitor Imogen Fleur

Trainee Solicitor, Imogen Fleur, joined the team here at CooperBurnett 18 months ago, so we thought we’d catch up with her to see how she’s progressing with her training contract.

Imogen initially spent a year working within our Corporate and Commercial team and is currently sitting in Commercial Property.

“It’s going really well,” says Imogen. “I feel very lucky, as CooperBurnett is exactly the type of firm I had hoped to do my training with. There’s a real family feel and it’s clear everyone wants the best for you. CooperBurnett really sees the bigger picture and regards investing in trainees and empowering them as important in the long run.”

Imogen is particularly enjoying her time in Commercial Property.

“I like the fact the work relates to bricks and mortar which you can see, rather than abstract concepts,” she explains. “I’ve also enjoyed working with business owners and building a rapport with landlords, who return to us regularly for support.”

She continues: “We work in smaller teams at CooperBurnett so there’s more opportunity to get involved with a variety of legal tasks and this often leads to quite a fast-paced learning environment.”

As part of her training, Imogen needs time within a litigation team, so is heading to work alongside Property Litigation Partner, John Spence, in September. She is also anticipating some ‘exposure’ to Private Client work as well.

“I’m not just learning about the law but picking up other skills, such as how to manage client relationships,” says Imogen. “It’s so valuable to observe to how each lawyer works and interacts with clients.”
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Imogen completed her Legal Practice Course (LPC)/Master of Laws (LLM) at BPP Cambridge in September 2021, having graduated from the University in Essex with a first-class degree in law.

In addition to working at CooperBurnett, Imogen has been undertaking the Professional Skills Course, which is compulsory as part of a training contract. She’s been heading to BPP in London for this.

“It’s wonderful to experience face-to-face teaching, as so much of my most recent studying was during the pandemic,” Imogen explains. “It’s been a great opportunity to meet other trainees and hear how their training contract is going. I really appreciate the importance of building a supportive network.”

She’s also helping to support other professionals in Kent, as they embark on their careers through being a member of interTWine, the business forum for aspiring managers in Tunbridge Wells and also as the current President of Kent Junior Lawyers Division (JLD).

“As a trainee, there is so much to learn and sometimes it helps to speak to people who are in the same boat,” Imogen says. “The Kent JLD has been a great way for me to stay connected.”

Imogen has some tips for other trainees:

• Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You’re not going to learn everything overnight. Every experienced lawyer was once a trainee. It helps to be within a supportive working environment, so it’s important to find the right firm for you.
• Stay open-minded. Trainees often start out thinking they know which area they wish to qualify into or may completely dismiss an area due to preconceptions, but there are so many valuable skills you can gain from your time in each seat to help you become a better lawyer, so immerse yourself.
• Enjoy every day. There is so much variety, which is one of the best parts of the job. We are continuously building skills and you have to trust the process. I thought two years would feel like forever but it’s amazing how quickly the time goes. Every day is a learning day, even on a ‘bad’ day.
  

“I know I’ve grown in confidence since I first started at CooperBurnett,” says Imogen. “Being a trainee is a journey. Some days you feel like you’ve accomplished a lot and things are starting to click and, other days, you feel overwhelmed and unproductive. It’s important to look back and recognise how far you’ve come.”