When Larin Ali graduated with a psychology degree, she found herself at a crossroads familiar to many recent graduates. She was working part-time but she knew she wanted more – a career in professional services that would challenge her and provide genuine growth opportunities.
The apprenticeship decision
After completing her psychology degree, Larin was determined to transition beyond retail into a professional environment.
When she applied for an apprenticeship role that had already closed, she thought the opportunity had passed her by. However, Sabina from Damar’s recruitment team saw potential and reached out with an alternative: a Business Administration Apprenticeship at Farrer & Co. It was a chance to enter professional services at a firm known for its high standards and supportive culture – exactly the kind of practical pathway she’d been seeking.
Early development
Starting at Farrer & Co meant entering new territory. Larin had never worked in an office environment before so everything was new. The apprenticeship structure added another layer of challenge: rotations every four months where she would “basically start from scratch and meet a whole bunch of people again.”
But this challenge was part of Larin’s growth. Mia Holdsworth-Norman, HR Manager at Farrer & Co, observed: “From the start, she approached every challenge with enthusiasm and professionalism, quickly learning new processes and integrating seamlessly into the PA team.”
The daily responsibilities of a practice assistant at Farrer & Co are demanding and varied. Larin’s typical day involves responding to numerous emails, handling administrative tasks, managing complex spreadsheets, organising dinners for partners and associates and supporting with billing during particularly intense periods.
What distinguished Larin is her proactive approach to work. As Mia explained: “She consistently demonstrates initiative by proactively seeking additional work whenever she has capacity – an approach that reflects the level of ownership we expect from our PA teams.”
Innovation
For her apprenticeship project, Larin identified a problem that many newcomers face. “Starting out is quite overwhelming because there is information everywhere on the intranet,” she observed. New practice assistants were expected to navigate the resources, templates and procedures without a clear roadmap.
Larin’s solution was to create a centralised guide that would serve as a one-stop resource for practice assistants. “I thought it would be a easier if I made a presentation that just went through the basics… a centralised area for all the resources,” she explained. The presentation covers essential basics, contact information, templates and links to useful pages – everything a new PA needs to hit the ground running.
The resource has since been shared across teams and is a tangible example of her commitment to improving processes and supporting others.
Growth and development
In a professional services environment, the ability to build strong relationships is crucial. Larin excelled in this area from the start. Mia’s feedback emphasised her collaborative approach: “Her friendly, approachable nature and willingness to assist others – even with last-minute tasks – show her commitment to teamwork and client service.”
Despite rotating through different teams every four months, Larin integrated quickly, bringing professionalism and confidence to each new environment, strengthening client service and setting a positive example for others.
Managing the apprenticeship meant balancing full-time office work with coursework – a challenge Larin approached with determination.
The apprenticeship curriculum covered diverse topics, many entirely new to Larin. She studied stakeholder management, project management and systems and processes – all practical skills directly applicable to her daily work.
Sarah Barnes, Larin’s coach, stated: “You could see how Larin grew as a professional individual throughout the apprenticeship, support by the confidence and knowledge she was gaining. Larin was always keen to progress her career with Farrer & Co and always appeared to have positive relationships with the different ASMs they worked with. Larin thrived on working independently and making a real contribution, implementing the knowledge and skills from the apprenticeship.”
The transformation in Larin over the course of her apprenticeship has been remarkable. From someone who had never worked in an office environment to a confident, trusted member of the PA team, Larin developed the organisational capabilities and resilience under pressure expected at a prestigious law firm. As Mia concludes: “Larin’s development reflects her adaptability, professionalism, and genuine enthusiasm for learning – qualities that will serve her well as she continues her career.”
Larin Ali’s journey from psychology graduate to accomplished practice assistant demonstrates that apprenticeships aren’t exclusively for school leavers – they’re equally valuable for graduates seeking practical experience, professional development and career direction. Her success in adapting to an entirely new environment, building confidence, taking initiative and earning the trust of colleagues at Farrer & Co shows the transformative impact of structured development combined with real responsibility.