Caroline Stephens, Trainee, April 2009

I started as a trainee at Cornwalls in April 2009. My induction training was comprehensive and from the first week I felt I was entering a very supportive and welcoming environment. This training and support continued throughout my traineeship.

At Cornwalls I was exposed to many areas of law. I was rotated through five practice groups: Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance, Commercial Property, Employment & Industrial Relations and Corporate & Commercial. Throughout these rotations, Cornwalls showed a strong commitment to my professional development. The work I undertook was challenging, diverse and interesting. I followed a steep learning curve, honing and developing my legal skills.

During my traineeship I felt like a valued member of the team, and was given the opportunity to work closely with senior lawyers. Cornwalls has an outstanding mentoring program and an open door policy; I was told on numerous occasions that there is no such thing as a dumb question if it helps you to understand the work you are doing.

Finally, Cornwalls offers and encourages a great work-life balance. There are plenty of entertaining firm social functions, including trivia nights, winery tours and zoo twilight experiences.

Overall I found my traineeship to be an excellent and fulfilling experience.