Working as a graduate at one of the leading law firms in Hawkes Bay has been the best start to my legal career. The support, diversity and encouragement which the team at Willis Legal provide, has meant that my first six months have flown by and I have loved every aspect of my first job in law.
Working and undergoing my professional studies was a lot to take on, but being able to apply what I was learning daily to my assessments was a huge benefit. Willis Legal supported me throughout the duration of the course and ensured that my workload never got too much for me to handle.
The main area where I have been working in is residential conveyancing and I have been able to take clients through the process from start to finish of a transaction. I have particularly enjoyed working with first home buyers and love giving clients a telephone call to confirm that their settlement has been completed. The process for first home buyers is unfamiliar territory, so making sure that I am available to answer any questions which they may have is important. Another aspect of conveyancing which I enjoy is that no two files are ever the same and that sometimes issues pop up at the last minute so that time is of the essence and solutions need to be found quickly so that we are in a position to settle.
Willis Legal has also encouraged me outside of work especially with my netball. When I was asked to coach a local secondary netball team, which meant I needed to leave work early once a week, they were enthusiastic of the idea. I appreciate that I can work and also give back to the local community through a sport which I am passionate about.
Overall, coming back to Hawkes Bay and being a graduate in a firm like Willis Legal was the best decision I could have made. The support not only from inside work but in the legal profession across Hawkes Bay has been of huge benefit to someone like me starting out, and I am looking forward to growing with the firm.