“Winning Apprentice of the Year has given me even more motivation to succeed in every aspect of my job and in my future, after completing my apprenticeship.”
PARALEGAL APPRENTICE | KENT AND MEDWAY NHS TRUST
Natasha Brown is Kent and Medway NHS Trust’s Apprentice of the Year. In this case study, she tells about her Paralegal Apprenticeship.
What is your job title?
Paralegal Apprentice.
Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?
I decided to do an apprenticeship because I liked the idea of learning on the job. I wanted real life experiences that would better my understanding of the law and my studies. I had done my own independent research on apprenticeships and other options after finishing my A-Levels and I decided that this was the best fit for me personally.
What sort of activities do you do in your role?
My role is extremely varied due to covering a range of areas as an in-house Legal Department. My role consists of a large amount of legal research, liaising with internal clients and external solicitors, bundle preparation, team organisation, managing files and much more.
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
I have mostly enjoyed the real life, hands on-learning during my apprenticeship. I find that every day I learn something new which keeps me in a progressive attitude and means that I am constantly able to challenge myself. I am able to retain information better and learn from it as I have real life examples to refer back to or apply with any new knowledge that I am learning in my role or legal studies with Damar.
How is your training with Damar?
I find that my training with Damar is very much applicable to my role. It ensures that all bases are covered. This means that sometimes I learn things that may not be relevant to my job role, however, may be more applicable to private practice which, in turn, helps me to understand and may help me in the future. Damar have been supportive throughout my apprenticeship and I’ve always been able to access the resources that I require.
What do you think your biggest achievement has been as an apprentice?
As an apprentice I believe that my biggest achievement has been to win Apprentice of the Year within my NHS Trust. This came as a real shock to me as there are so many deserving winners, especially considering that I work in a healthcare setting where there are a wide variety of apprenticeships going on. I am very thankful for being nominated and making it through the various stages to achieve the award. During the entirety of my apprenticeship I have achieved a lot of personal goals by passing exams during my apprenticeship and enjoying the experience of constantly learning whilst doing a job that I love.
What do you think you have contributed to your organisation during your apprenticeship?
During my apprenticeship I think I have contributed a lot to my organisation. I believe I have been able to present a different perspective on scenarios and situations in my team, support members of staff leading up to, during and after court hearings, and share current knowledge from my studies to help with cases in the team.
What are your career plans for when you’ve finished your apprenticeship?
I would love to continue a career within my current team because I love the range of areas of law that are covered and I find my organisation very interesting. After my apprenticeship I would love to continue learning, in some capacity, in order to expand my knowledge further. I enjoy working in the public sector but would be open to new opportunities in the future.
What does winning this award mean to you?
Winning this award has meant a lot to me; I appreciate feeling as though I have made a difference and that people have noticed my efforts. I was extremely surprised to be nominated, let alone to win. Winning Apprentice of the Year has given me even more motivation to succeed in every aspect of my job and in my future, after completing my apprenticeship.