Jessica Boa: From Paralegal to Trainee

Choosing where to begin your legal career is one of the most important decisions you'll make. In this series, our trainee solicitors share their experiences of life at Porter Dodson, offering practical advice, insights into the training contract journey and an honest perspective on developing a career in law. Whether you're considering applying for a training contract, exploring paralegal opportunities or preparing for the SQE route to qualification, these first-hand stories provide valuable guidance from those who have recently been in your position.

One of the questions aspiring solicitors often ask is whether working as a paralegal before starting a training contract is worthwhile. Having made that transition myself, I can confidently say the experience gave me a valuable head start when beginning my legal career.

Why I joined as a Paralegal first

At Porter Dodson, future trainees are encouraged to join the team as a paralegal prior to beginning their training contract. I joined Porter Dodson in 2024 following the completion of my LLM masters and SQE exams, working as a paralegal within the Yeovil and Sherborne Private Client department. 

As a paralegal, I developed an understanding of the firms’ internal systems and the importance of providing practical, responsive and commercially focused advice to clients in line with the firm’s core values and ethos. Working within the firm prior to beginning my training contract has allowed me to build relationships across departments and our offices, giving me insight into potential seats I wish to undertake. It has also allowed me to build relationships with future supervisors and my fellow trainees to create a sense of community and support even before becoming a trainee.

Taking the step up to trainee solicitor

Taking the step up from being a paralegal to a trainee solicitor, whilst challenging, has given me an exciting opportunity to build upon the knowledge, relationships and confidence I have developed with a firm I am extremely proud to be a part of. Rather than starting again somewhere new, I have been able to continue my career among colleagues who are invested in my growth and in helping me succeed and achieve my goals. I have also been fortunate enough to continue working with clients from my previous role, helping them navigate legal challenges they face across different sectors of law, and building long lasting and meaningful client relationships. 

Building confidence before my training contract

From the outset of my training contract, I have been encouraged to take on greater responsibility, moving beyond the core skills learned as a paralegal with the support of my supervisors and surrounding team. My existing familiarity with our systems, working practices and firmwide culture has allowed me to focus on deepening my legal knowledge and expanding my understanding of different sectors of law. As part of the trainee role, I have been encouraged to become more involved in analysing legal issues, drafting complex documents, attending client meetings, and managing aspects of matters, building my confidence to advise and support clients. 

Advice for aspiring trainees

For aspiring solicitors considering the next step in their career, gaining experience as a paralegal before starting a training contract can provide an invaluable foundation. Porter Dodson’s commitment to developing people from paralegal to trainee solicitor reflects the value they place on loyalty and the time and energy they invest in their trainees to help them build long-lasting careers. Porter Dodson’s support and encouragement through the transition from paralegal to trainee solicitor, has provided me with a chance to expand on my experience, take ownership of my career progression and move more confidently towards becoming a solicitor whilst remaining part of a firm that focuses on investing in their people and providing the highest quality advice to their clients. 

Jessica Boa, Trainee Solicitor

Meet our trainees and learn more about our training contract programme on our Trainees page here.

Applications for our Solicitor Training contract 2027/28 are open now until 6th January 2027 - click here to apply