This past year has flown by faster than I could have imagined. I am currently in the second seat of my training contract, working in the Civil Court Department at the Ayr office. My journey began with six months in the Private Client department under the mentorship of Debbie in the Girvan office. Now, having departed the sunny shores of Girvan for the equally "sunny" shores of Ayr, I have spent the last five months immersing myself in the hustle and bustle at number 39, getting to grips with all things Court-related.

The level of work and responsibility has significantly increased since I first started in the department, which is something I truly appreciate. I enjoy the variety of tasks that come with case management; no two days are ever the same, which keeps the work engaging and challenging.

One aspect of Court work I particularly enjoy is researching the law to understand how it has evolved through Court decisions. I am equally conscious of the responsibility I have to assist people through difficult and challenging times in their lives. It is incredibly rewarding to secure a favourable outcome for clients.

I am also becoming familiar with the Court processes involved in some Private Client work, such as guardianship applications, and I am eager to continue building on the foundation of knowledge I gained in my first seat.

While many Court hearings now take place online—a practice that has continued post-COVID—there are still plenty of opportunities to attend Court in person. I have had the chance to sit in on hearings at both Ayr and Kilmarnock Sheriff Courts. Ayr Sheriff Court is only about a five-minute walk from the office, and despite being a local, it was my first time ever stepping inside, which was an exciting experience!

Having reached the one-year milestone as a trainee, I will soon be applying for the right of audience to appear in Court. I am looking forward to honing my court craft and putting theory into practice.

I am fortunate to have the support of my supervisors—Robert, Colin, and Karen—who, like many in the firm, maintain an open-door policy. Our weekly department meetings are invaluable for staying up to date on current and upcoming cases. I also greatly appreciate the secretaries in the department, who have been an invaluable support and have welcomed me warmly into the team.  

We are encouraged to get involved in networking, charitable, and social activities at the firm. Recently, we celebrated the firm's 40th anniversary and even had a fantastic team-building trip to Malaga. Early summer sun and tapas were most definitely a bonus!  I also attended Ayr County Show where we were sponsoring the adorable Valais sheep class.  

I had my own milestone birthday in May, and I was pleasantly surprised by all my colleagues in the office which is indicative of the warm team culture at The McKinstry Company.

Finally, what I have enjoyed most about my second seat so far is the increased responsibility I have in progressing matters from initial instruction, while receiving a good level of support and supervision. I am also appreciating how the Civil department intersects with other areas of law how everyone works together across the different departments.

The confidence I have gained from this experience makes me excited for the next six months as I work towards qualification. One down, one to go!