What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

14 Nov 2025

1 minute read

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At our bicentenary celebrations in Norwich, we gathered words of wisdom from guests and speakers. From following the work you love and keeping things concise, to embracing curiosity and asking questions – solicitors at every stage of their career shared the best advice they’ve received.

Jodie Hosmer, head of legal operations at Mills and Reeve – 20 years PQE

I have two pieces of advice.

The first: follow the work that you love, not the people you love working with. The people will come and go but the area of law will always remain.

My second came when I was approaching a career change. My husband gave me the advice to do things that take you out of your comfort zone.

I’d been a traditional fee-earning, full-time lawyer but then I had the opportunity to move into legal operations. I had a bit of a wobble because it felt like I was standing on a cliff. My husband said to me: “how are you going to feel if you don't take the job and somebody else does it, and they don't do it the way that you would have wanted it to be done?”

Great things can happen when you step outside your comfort zone.

Milan Pandit, solicitor at Leathes Prior – eight months PQE

A man in a striped suit smiles at an event. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

I think a lot of people when they're starting out struggle with nerves. Whether it be nerves before the interview for a training contract, or the first meeting with a big client.

My dad always used to say: “I've always found that over preparing for those sorts of things kills the nerves in it.”

If you are prepared and something still catches you out, you've done everything you could have.

The worst thing is going into a meeting with a client and asking about something that you should have known.

Watch our two minute video for more insights

We gathered 200 years’ worth of career advice from qualified solicitors at our bicentenary event in Norwich – including from Law Society president Richard Atkinson.

Fiona Anthony, associate professor of law at UEA Law School and non practicing solicitor – 31 years PQE

A woman in a blazer smiles. Be yourself.

Everyone has their own career journey so don’t compare yourself to other people.

I didn't really appreciate this when I first started in law. It took a bit of time to work out that not everybody takes the traditional route into law – and not everybody follows it once they’re there.

Don't compare yourself to other people because everyone has a very individual journey.

James Hill, legal and governance director at Norwich City Football Club - 13 years PQE

A man in a blazer smiles. Write as little as you can and then go back and take half of it out.

You need to ensure you're writing in a concise way, with as much clarity as possible.

Working in-house, I find that people don't want to know how much law you know. They want to get a solution to their problem, and to an outcome they want, as soon as possible.

This is particularly important for me working for a football club. I need to distil the message and make it clear because it’s a fast-paced environment and people don't have much time.

Chloe Edwards, senior associate at Hansells Solicitors – 4 years PQE

A woman in a black dress smiles at the camera. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

I received this advice as a trainee and it still helps me a lot because not everybody knows everything. There's no such thing as a silly question, and the worst question you can ask is the one you didn't.

Sometimes I’ll sit there thinking about a question, but I don't want to look stupid by asking. But actually, when I have asked the question, a lot of people have come up to me after and said, “I'm so glad you asked that!”