From Secretary to Solicitor

We’re thrilled to continue our blog series celebrating the incredible journeys of our colleagues and the many ways careers can flourish within our firm.

In this blog we are sharing Lois Britchford’s journey as a Solicitor.  

Thank you Lois for sharing your career progression journey for others to read.

“I grew up in Hull, went to school there and stayed there to complete my degree – I’d never really left. So, when I secured a role at Crombie Wilkinson in York straight after finishing my LPC, it felt like a big step in more ways than one.

I joined the firm as a secretary in the Private Client team, and if I am honest, I didn’t really know what Private Client was.

What I did know was that I wanted to work in law. A support role felt like the best way to gain real experience and understand how a firm operates from the inside. What I didn’t realise at the time was that this “first job” would quietly lay the foundations for everything that followed.

Six months in, full of enthusiasm (and perhaps a little overconfidence), I applied for a training contract.

I didn’t get it.

It was my first “proper rejection” - the kind that really stings. Looking back, though, it was entirely understandable. I was incredibly nervous throughout the assessment day and, compared to the other candidates, I probably wouldn’t have given it to me either.

At the time, it felt disappointing. Now, I see it as one of the most important moments in my career. It forced me to reflect, build resilience and focus on developing the confidence and experience I needed.

Shortly afterwards, I was offered the opportunity to move to the Family team — an area I’d always been interested in. I jumped at the chance. The move gave me broader experience, deeper legal knowledge and exposure to areas like mediation, which had always appealed to me. I began to understand how different departments operate and how varied a legal career can be.

About a year later, I progressed to a paralegal role. With more responsibility and hands-on experience under my belt, I decided to roll the dice again and reapply for a training contract.

This time, I was successful.

I started my training contract in May 2023, staying in Care law for my first seat before moving into Private Family (including divorce and children matters) for my second. Both seats were challenging and rewarding in completely different ways.

I then moved to Residential Conveyancing — a department I genuinely loved. The teamwork, pace and client interaction were fantastic. But sometimes progression is also about recognising what isn’t quite right long term, and although I enjoyed it enormously, I knew my future lay elsewhere.

For my final seat, I decided to go back to where it all began: Private Client.

Until then, I had only experienced the “admin” side of the department. Seeing it from a fee earner’s perspective was completely different. I understood the technical advice, the strategy and the responsibility involved in guiding clients through significant life events. It felt like everything had come full circle.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Qualifying into Private Client feels especially meaningful because I understand the department from every angle. Starting as a secretary gave me resilience, attention to detail and a genuine appreciation for support roles - skills I use daily as a solicitor.

If I’ve learnt anything, it’s that career progression isn’t always linear. Rejection can redirect you. Lateral moves can shape you. And sometimes the long way round is exactly the right way.

My advice? Don’t fear rejection — sometimes it’s just redirection in disguise.”