I read law at UEA graduating in 2007 and then completed the Corporate Legal Practice Course at the College of Law London in 2008.

My first meeting with EAPD, or Kendall Freeman as it was then, was the open day. I remember being made to feel very comfortable when I first walked into the office and received a warm welcome into the firm. The open day was most enjoyable and I went home impressed that EAPD was a very successful yet friendly law firm and a seemingly enjoyable place to work.

At the open day the trainees spoke of the special level of attention they enjoyed at the firm and I began to experience this myself as a mere applicant. Following my visit to the open day I was contacted by the recruitment team regularly and asked to write an article for the trainee newsletter.

Following a positive first experience at EAPD I applied successfully for a place on the vacation scheme which was a great opportunity to get to know the firm properly. I spent a week in two different departments with two different associates and also got to spend a day at court with a partner in a jurisdiction dispute. I was assigned a trainee 'buddy' for the week who was a great first port of call whenever I needed help with anything. Everyone at the firm was approachable and the trainees were clearly already enjoying their time at the firm. The trainees made the effort to socialise with us outside of office hours and I was impressed by the very likeable people that EAPD seemed to employ. Accordingly on being offered a training contract I accepted immediately and cancelled my other interviews.

In September 2008 I began my training contract sitting in Insurance Insolvency. I shared an office with an experienced associate who trained at the firm. I  benefited greatly from his constant supervision and guidance in the work I did and enjoyed the banter that ensued from supporting rival football teams! I was involved with some very topical work in relation to the administration of Lehman Brothers and was most impressed that the firm was suitably positioned to offer advice on major commercial events as they occurred.

I also worked with the provisional liquidators acting for a Lloyd’s corporate member in the making of an application for the approval of their remunerations. I was primarily responsible for drafting all of the required documentation and enjoyed a great deal of client contact at each stage of the application. I really enjoyed the amount of responsibility that I was given but at the same time the support network that was available instils the confidence required at this early stage in my career.

I have also recently been instructed to act on a pro bono matter for the LawWorks scheme and have been advising a client on an issue of contractual dispute. The pro bono work is a rewarding experience and provides a great opportunity to enjoy responsibility in drafting letters to clients and being responsible for the management of a case.

EAPD is proud to be one of few City firms where employees are encouraged to have a life outside work. I have enjoyed many of the firm's social events and equally memorable are the impromptu drinks on a Friday evening after a week of hard work. I was also pleased to be invited to social events after being offered a training contract and found that they provided an opportunity to meet my future colleagues in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Trainees are responsible for organising social events and I recently enjoyed an active role in organising the 2009 Trainee Winter Party, a rather exciting 'Gangsters and Molls Evening'...Forgedddaboutit!

In my first week at EAPD I became very much aware that it was a great time to join the firm. The firm merged with US firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP months before I began and in my first week there was an announcement that the firm had opened an office in Hong Kong. To a trainee this spelt out the very real possibility of spending time out on secondment in offices outside London alongside the secondments that already exist to clients such as Shell and Harrods. Clearly the quality of the training contract and the general ambition of the firm has reached exciting new heights.

Overall, the firm is a great place to work. Employees enjoy the opportunity to provide a high quality cross-border service to clients of the highest calibre in a friendly and enjoyable environment. The firm has received rewards for the impressive standard of training it offers and seemingly there has been no better time to join the firm.