By Amelia Waters
Stepping into the legal profession as a trainee solicitor can be very daunting, especially in a city like Manchester that blends big-city opportunity with a close-knit professional community. However, life as a trainee solicitor in a smaller city firm like Ralli Solicitors LLP has for me been the right balance. The firm is large enough to handle quality work, but not too large that you are just another number.
Why I chose a smaller city firm
Stepping into the legal profession as a trainee solicitor can be very daunting, especially in a city like Manchester that blends big-city opportunity with a close-knit professional community. However, life as a trainee solicitor in a smaller city firm like Ralli Solicitors has for me been the right balance. The firm is large enough to handle quality work, but not too large that you are just another number.
I started in October 2023 and recently just qualified in October 2025. I completed work experience at Ralli Solicitors before being offered to apply for their training contract. I then had an interview and a written exam before being offered the training contract. Completing work experience at the firm beforehand gave me an insight into what the firm was like and the people working there, however, completing the written exam gave me opportunity to see what the legal profession was like outside of university.
Getting hands-on experience from day one
Unlike in some larger city firms, where you hear stories of trainees spending months behind the scenes photocopying documents, Ralli Solicitors likes to get you involved in the work from day one. From the moment you start you’re likely to be drafting documents and correspondence to clients, attending client meetings and court hearings, and sitting in on strategy discussions. This meant that I felt trusted and part of the team from the beginning.
Rotating seats and building real legal skills
As a trainee you typically rotate through several seats, giving you exposure to a broad mix of legal areas. At Ralli Solicitors, my seats have included employment law, corporate law and commercial dispute resolution. Work tends to be varied with a mix of larger clients and smaller individuals; however, this gives you a well-rounded understanding of how the law operates across different contexts.
Being part of the team from the start means that you are joining client calls, handing preparation for court hearings, attending site visits or mediations, and managing day-to-day queries. You learn how to talk to clients, manage expectations and build trust, and at Ralli Solicitors you have a supportive team behind you who want you to grow and build your knowledge.
A trainee experience with genuine work–life balance
You often hear that life as a trainee takes over and you will be left with no life outside your work, and we all know the law is fast paced wherever you work, but at Ralli Solicitors you do get a genuine work life balance. Emphasis is put on working hard and learning, but also not forgetting that you have a life outside of work. The team will always be there to support and help you grow, and when deadlines stack up or the workload becomes busier than usual, you will be supported rather than battling it alone.
The transition from trainee to newly qualified solicitor
After two years as a trainee, you will get to the exciting but nerve-wracking stage of becoming a newly qualified solicitor. There’s the pressure of choosing the correct practice area for you, learning to handle more responsibility and not rely on your supervisors, and building your confidence as the person the clients now want to rely on.
I qualified at the beginning of October 2025, and my transition has been smoother than I imagined because I already know the firm and the teams, I’ve handled meaningful work throughout my two years training, and I still have the close support that I was receiving during my training contract. This demonstrated to me that choosing a smaller city firm was always the best decision for me and my legal career.
Advice for future trainees and newly qualified solicitors
If you are starting your journey as a trainee or newly qualified solicitor, one piece of advice I would give is to try and really think about what will be best for your learning and legal career. You want exposure to high-quality work, responsibility from the outset and a chance to grow in a supportive and friendly environment.
Ralli Solicitors has been all of these things for me, and I’m excited to continue growing and learning in my legal career.
