Sophie Holt-Rogers’ journey to becoming a qualified solicitor

Qualifying as a solicitor takes years of hard work, determination, and gaining hands-on experience across different practices. At Harrison Drury, we are proud to support and develop the next generation of talent who are looking to build a career in law.

Sophie Holt-Rogers joined us in 2022 as a paralegal before starting her training contract in 2024, and has recently qualified as a solicitor in our corporate team. We sat down with Sophie to discuss her journey and the lessons and advice she has received along the way.

Tell us a little about your role now that you have qualified.

I have qualified as a solicitor in the corporate team at Harrison Drury, where I assist on a all kinds of corporate transactions.

I work closely with management teams, shareholders, institutional investors and individuals, supporting them on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and corporate advisory work.

Which practice area seats did you complete and what did you learn from the various challenges of different types of law?

I completed my first seat in the corporate team, followed by employment, and then a final seat split between commercial and corporate.

Each seat offered something different. Employment strengthened my attention to detail and understanding of the commercial implications of people-related issues, while commercial shifted my mindset towards what really matters to businesses and how they operate day to day.

How has feedback from leaders and colleagues shaped the way you practice law today?

I was very fortunate to work with such knowledgeable and supportive leaders who consistently took the time to provide constructive feedback.

Sitting down to review pieces of work and understand what could be improved has shaped how I approach tasks, review documents and think more critically about the advice I give.

What do you think makes a good mentor and how has support from your mentors influenced you during training?

A good mentor is someone who checks in regularly, provides honest and constructive feedback, and creates opportunities for real exposure, whether that’s attending important meetings or being involved in more complex work.

My mentors always pushed me outside my comfort zone in a supportive way, which has played a huge role in my development and confidence.

Now you’ve qualified, what are you most looking forward to next in your role?

I’m looking forward to continuing to build my experience, developing my technical skills, working with more clients and taking on more responsibility.

What’s something you enjoy doing outside the office that helps you stay balanced or brings you joy?

I really enjoy going to the gym and competing in fitness competitions – it’s a great stress reliever and constantly challenges me to push my limits.

I also enjoy playing padel. We have an HD Manchester Padel Club where we regularly play and invite external contacts along, which is good fun and a great networking opportunity.

Thinking back to your very first day on a training seat, what stands out most now that you’ve qualified?

There really was no need to be as nervous as I was.

My training contract helped me grow in confidence, largely through putting me in situations that initially felt uncomfortable but now I enjoy, like presenting, attending client pitches and networking.

What’s the most valuable skill you’ve developed during your training and how has it benefited you?

Organisation. The corporate team is always busy, and learning how to prioritise effectively, manage competing deadlines and stay on top of my workload has been essential.

What’s the best piece of advice you received from a mentor during your training and how do you apply it in your work?

To embrace AI and use it effectively. If you’re not keeping up with it, you risk being left behind.

With Harrison Drury partnering with August, it’s a real opportunity, especially for juniors, to use AI to work more efficiently and add value.

If you could give future trainees one practical tip that has helped you most in your day-to-day work, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone at HD is genuinely friendly and approachable, and senior colleagues would always rather you ask a question than struggle in silence, it saves time and helps you learn properly.

Interested in finding out more about a career in law? Our careers page has more details about the opportunities at Harrison Drury.