I arrived at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge (EAPD) after studying law at the University of Birmingham, and then completing the LPC at Guildford College of Law. I had a year to wait before my Training Contract started, so I split this time equally between travelling and working as a paralegal. Both fantastic experiences, but for very different reasons!

As first years, we have landed at EAPD in times of real and significant change. In January of this year Kendall Freeman merged with a US firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP. From an insider's point of view, this has created a stronger, broader firm, that has managed to retain the personality I was initially attracted to as Kendall Freeman.

My path to a training contract with the firm was not straight forward. I had decided fairly early that the firm was one which appealed to me.

I began the arduous quest to gain one of the highly sought after training contract places, thinking that applying for the Summer Vacation scheme was a good a place as any to start. After applying, much to my delight I was offered an interview, but was not then selected for the scheme.

It would be at this point that most of us would have given up and trotted along our merry way. However, due to a combination of my real determination to work for EAPD and the firm's continued interest in me, I didn't give up hope.

After my interview, I was invited to attend an open day where I gained a better understanding of the work done and continued to be impressed with the genuine friendliness of everyone in the firm. Following the open day I was invited to an interview for the training contract. The interview itself was tough, however, I really felt that the partners were trying to get to know me as a person, and what made me tick. It made my decision easy, then choosing between different offers, as EAPD had always made me feel relaxed and completely myself.

I am currently sitting in Insurance Litigation, and just a few short weeks into the Training Contract, I know I made the right decision all those years ago. Everyone is very approachable, from the partners to the PA's, there is a real sense of team amongst all members of the firm. EAPD has gone from strength to strength, and the opportunities for truly exciting work in which trainees can get involved are very real.