Aaliyah Freemantle, a trainee solicitor at Howard Kennedy, talks about her involvement in the firm’s social events and diversity networks, and the opportunities they’ve opened up for her along the way
Sitting down to chat with Aaliyah Freemantle, trainee solicitor at Howard Kennedy, I ask what her advice would be for aspiring solicitors hoping to secure a training contract. “Networking, networking, networking!” is her response. “The legal world is big, but it’s also very small. Attend as many events as you can to build a wide network and establish valuable connections,” she continues. “Mentorship and sponsorship are also key. Speak with people who are where you want to be and learn from their journey and experiences.”
Freemantle had first-hand experience of valuable mentorship early on in her legal journey. “While I was studying for my master’s, I worked part time for a high street bank,” she tells me. “I was working as a cashier and happened to serve the bank’s head of legal. I had a conversation with him and mentioned that I was pursuing a master’s degree in law, explaining my aspiration to become a lawyer. We got along and he became my mentor and offered me work experience in the bank’s legal team. It was very much a coincidence but turned into a great relationship!”
This experience spurred Freemantle in pursuing a legal career. She worked as a legal assistant and as a paralegal, moving to Howard Kennedy as a paralegal where she secured her training contract. I am curious to know how this paralegal experience prepared her for life as a trainee. “It was good to get some practical legal experience first,” she says. “A career in law is a big commitment. Before embarking on further professional qualifications like the LPC, I wanted to make sure this was a career I could see myself in long term.” She continues: “The exposure to legal work I had as a paralegal was really useful. I was able to figure out where my strengths are and it also helped my decision in choosing which firms to apply to for training contracts.”
So, what persuaded Freemantle to train at Howard Kennedy? “I thought the work was challenging but also interesting,” she responds. “It was the opportunity to work on complex, high-level, matters that initially attracted me to the firm.” However, it was the culture of the firm that really sealed the deal. “Everybody here is so friendly. When you’re junior, it can be intimidating working with senior lawyers, but it doesn’t feel that way at Howard Kennedy. You can ask questions without feeling silly and people want to help you. The supportive environment is why I wanted to train here,” Freemantle explains.
In her time as a trainee so far, Freemantle has become involved in life at Howard Kennedy outside of her legal work. She joined the trainee social committee in her first year and, as a second-year trainee, now takes on a leadership role, planning events where Howard Kennedy’s 16 trainees can let their hair down and unwind. “There are huge benefits of being part of the trainee social committee,” she tells me. “Trainees often don’t work together. We are spread across different seats and, even if you’re not the only trainee in your department, you’re likely to be the only trainee on many of your projects. It’s important to plan events which build relationships between the trainees and create a supportive environment.” I am curious to know about the types of events the committee puts on. “We have tried to be creative with our events,” says Freemantle. “As well as doing karaoke, bowling and mini golf, we manage our budget by doing unusual events. We’re currently planning a games night inspired by the TV show, Traitors, for January.”
As well as fostering close bonds with her trainee cohort, this role presents an opportunity for Freemantle to hone some useful skills. “The logistical side of planning events, managing our budget and thinking about scheduling, requires key skills which are very transferrable to the day-to-day role of being a lawyer,” Freemantle explains. “When I attend meetings where the team are planning events for our clients, I see a lot of the same skills being applied.”
As well as her role on the trainee social committee, Freemantle takes an active role in the Religion, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage (REACH) network at Howard Kennedy. “I’ve always been passionate about diversity, equality and promoting minority voices,” she tells me. “It felt very natural for me to get involved with REACH. “We have regular meetings, and we plan events. My favourite part of our work is encouraging members of the firm to share their cultural experiences and traditions. We share videos on our intranet where colleagues talk about their cultural festivals/traditions. We have created videos like this for Diwali and Hannukah.” I ask Freemantle why this work is so important to her. “Promoting understanding and appreciation for other cultures is important to me,” she says. “When I was applying for training contracts, I considered each firm’s approach to diversity and inclusion as well as their other responsible business initiatives. I now have the opportunity to shape my firm’s culture. Diversity is important in the recruitment process, but it is equally important to foster an internal environment where everyone feels they belong.”
As part of Howard Kennedy’s REACH network, Freemantle has organised two Christmas markets which support small black-owned businesses. “This is definitely one of my proudest achievements in this role,” she tells me. “We invited small business owners to set up stalls in our offices, allowing people from across our building to do some Christmas shopping. It was so successful last year that we decided to do it again this year!” The REACH network also hosted Howard Kennedy’s October end-of-month drinks, celebrating Black History Month.”We invited a business owner who sells West African puff-puff treats to speak about her experiences as an entrepreneur and what this year’s theme of Black History Month meant to her. She also brought her delicious treats to the firm, which was amazing.” Freemantle mentioned that she received an internal award at the Howard Kennedy Awards for her contributions to the REACH network.
As we finish up our discussion, I ask Freemantle why getting involved with life at Howard Kennedy outside of her legal work is important. “Getting involved with social life and networks are a great way to build your profile across the firm with trainees as well as associates and partners,” she responds. “Many trainees and junior lawyers won’t meet other members of the firm unless they work with them, so these are valuable networking opportunities.” She also emphasises the importance of enhancing the firm’s culture. “When you work somewhere, you want the culture to be great, so it’s rewarding to contribute to that. Creating a positive environment encourages people from all backgrounds to apply to Howard Kennedy and feel welcomed once they arrive,” she finishes.
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