Colleague Spotlight
Alex Holmes
A relative newcomer to the team, Alex Holmes is at the beginning of an exciting legal career.
From crafting complex legal documents to working on-on-one with clients, Alex has accumulated a wealth of hands-on experience during her first 12 months as a Paralegal at WorkNest, which she describes as “not your standard paralegal role”.
We spoke to her about what sets WorkNest’s trainee experience apart from traditional law firms, the support she’s received so far, and her aspirations for the future.
About Alex
Paralegal
Joined WorkNest in April 2022
"This isn’t your standard paralegal role – this is a souped-up, get-stuck-in role, with a plethora of learning on the job. I highly recommend the experience to any budding Solicitors."
What’s your career journey been like?
I joined WorkNest in April 2022 as a Paralegal, with the aim of gaining experience in a law firm and the long-term goal of formally qualifying as a Solicitor via the CILEx route. To date, I’ve worked across both the Litigation and Contracts & Handbooks department, and I’m roughly halfway through my CILEx log book.
Why do you love coming to work?
I pride myself on being able to give clients an amazing experience with an area of law that they might not be particularly passionate about. I enjoy going above and beyond to ensure that each and every one of our clients gets the best experience and receives advice across as many areas as we can provide, by working with WorkNest’s sister companies to provie an all-round service where possible. I also love my team – the support given to trainees is second to none, and I’ve been able to get stuck into a huge variety of tasks across the board, from drafting complex legal documents to building that one-to-one rapport with a client.
What’s the culture like?
I personally love that WorkNest has embraced the hybrid working culture and sees this as the way forward for the company. It means that the company is open to a wider range of talent, as anyone across the UK could work for WorkNest and bring their own expertise without having to relocate! There’s an incredible open door policy – you can approach anyone across any department with suggestions or queries, and you will be listened to and your feedback taken on board. This is supported by the recent introduction of the listening groups and shows that WorkNest is truly keeping employees at the heart of what they do.
What do you love most about your job?
I love that at WorkNest, I’m able to get a broader trainee experience than at any other law firm, as I can retain my own client base whilst working under supervision to attain the key skills I’ll need when I qualify as a Solicitor. This isn’t your standard paralegal role – this is a souped-up, get-stuck-in role, with a plethora of learning on the job. I highly recommend the experience to any budding Solicitors as it is a great way to gain the key skills that you generally wouldn’t get by doing a traditional training contract. I’m confident that I have a future in the business and look forward to finally qualifying as a Solicitor and being able to support my fellow colleagues in bigger and better ways!
Why are you proud to work at WorkNest?
I’m proud to work at a company that has the ability to give a client that all-round experience – there isn’t much that we can’t do as a group, and that means that our clients can come to us and have most, if not all, of their queries answered by us or someone in the wider group. The ability to have that offering readily available makes WorkNest very competitive and also means plenty of progression opportunities.
What advice would you give to new starters?
Don’t be afraid to get stuck in with learning new skills! Everyone is very friendly and welcoming – you can pick up the phone to anyone in any department, from Director to Paralegal, and they will be more than happy to guide you in the right direction.
Why not join our team?
We’re proud to provide a platform for ambitious professionals like Alex to thrive and achieve their career goals. If you’re passionate about employment law and are looking for an environment that values integrity, teamwork, excellence and inclusion, why not join our talented legal team?
Head over to our Careers page to find your next employment law role.
