Career stories: Bruce Taylor

Breaking into the legal profession requires more than academic achievement - from cultivating soft skills to building meaningful relationships, the journey demands dedication, self-awareness, and a genuine passion for the law. 

We sat down with Bruce Taylor, one of our trainee solicitors, to hear their insights on everything from navigating the application process to maintaining work-life balance, and what it truly means to thrive in a modern law firm.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the legal profession?

I would say spending time on your ‘soft’ skills is often overlooked. Developing your attention to detail, critical thinking, and commercial awareness is going to be key in succeeding in applications and work experience. This all matters just as much as having both legal and non-legal work experience so it’s really important to show commitment to the development of these skills early on, as that’ll set you in good stead for when you join the profession. 

What was your experience of the FAIRE programme, and did this shape your career in any way?

My experience of the FAIRE programme was incredible. I was 20 years old, and it was my first experience in a law firm; an environment I had many misconceptions about. Browne Jacobson dismantled those preconceptions relatively quickly, and I realised that the firm had a unique culture which managed to balance focus on social value and offering stellar legal services. It pretty much sealed my decision that I wanted to work at Browne Jacobson thus leading me to the Summer Vacation Scheme and ultimately the Trainee Solicitor Pathway. So, I suppose it shaped my career tremendously!

What advice would you give to your past self at the start of your training contract?

Not to take feedback to heart; it is a necessary part of your journey within the firm, and integral for your personal and professional development.

How do you build relationships with supervisors and colleagues in each new seat?

I like to go into each seat with a base-level awareness of the work done within the team. This helps my questions to be informed and useful. I will also try to pro-actively offer help, seek feedback regularly, and be visible. It’s important to attend team socials, join meetings, and be present in the office. I find that working relationships deepen through general office chit-chat!

How important is networking within the firm, and how do you approach it?

It’s vitally important. I like to make use of local networking events, make use of the established networks we have at the firm (such as the PRIDE network), and approach other practice areas with genuine curiosity. Not only does this further my understanding of other practice areas and society’s biggest issues, but it helps me cultivate a wider network of connections which will be mutually beneficial later down the line. 

How do you manage your workload during particularly busy periods?

It’s really important to have quick access to your deadlines. Ultimately, sooner deadlines need to be completed first, so ensuring I am on top of these and can refer to them quickly when I am prioritising my workload helps massively. It also helps to be confident in honestly and pro-actively communicating capacity to colleagues, to manage wider expectations as to when you will be able to finalise a task. 

What strategies do you use to maintain your work-life balance?

Work-life balance is integral, and as an Apprentice, I find it’s even more important to carve out that time to yourself. Finding hobbies that you enjoy can help you set other meaningful goals to work towards; running has become a love of mine!

What is the biggest misconception people typically have about careers in law?

That lawyers are intimidating and that we ‘argue for a living’ – I work in a fantastic team of lawyers that are welcoming, supportive and collaborative.