Reece Parsons’ journey to law

We caught up with Reece, who is currently doing his LPC after spending over a year working as a paralegal in our Commercial Litigation team, about his journey to law. Starting with us in September 2024 as Trainee Solicitor, Reece shares his motivations to pursue a career in a commercial law firm, as well as some tips and advice for those currently exploring their options.

Why a career in law?

I would say that I was very fortunate in the sense that I always knew that I wanted a career in law from an early age. When I was at university, I think it’s fair to say that my perception of the adversarial nature of law (and lawyers!) was accentuated by shows such as Suits! As I further explored law as a career, my understanding developed. It really appealed to me that it would entail working on a number of factually unique matters for clients who rely on lawyers’ advice and expertise to guide them through complex and challenging situations. Having the responsibility to contribute to this was a key factor in my decision to pursue this career. From a skills perspective, I am good at writing and analysing information – which are things that I also enjoy and are essential in a legal setting. 

What made you choose Foot Anstey and what are you most excited about?

After working as a paralegal in the Commercial Litigation team for over a year, I had a great insight into the fantastic work that, not only the team does, but the firm as a whole. The firm's sector approach really appeals to me and I’m particularly interested in assisting clients operating in the Retail & Consumer sector - especially in light of the recently reported increase in shoplifting which will require carefully considered measures from businesses. I'm really looking forward to training with the firm, experiencing different teams in the business and developing my understanding of our sectors and clients and how we support them.

The firm's sector approach really appeals to me and I’m particularly interested in assisting clients operating in the Retail & Consumer sector - especially in light of the recently reported increase in shoplifting which will require carefully considered measures from businesses.

Reece Parsons

What advice would you give to others who are interested in a legal career?

Sources such as Chambers Student and Legal Cheek are brilliant at providing accessible content on the legal profession. For more specific information about specific firms or legal issues, news and publications on a law firm's website will provide a great deal of information on things such as: sectors that firm is investing in, campaigns in relation to a market or legal changes, and the type of work that a firm does. In addition, regularly reading a handful of articles from the business section on news outlets like BBC will give you a good idea of trends in the economy, and issues that businesses care about – this is really important for commercial awareness. Finally, I'm probably biased but… Foot Anstey's recent podcast series: The Trainee Lowdown, is also a great resource for tips as you go through researching and applying to firms for training contracts.

Regularly reading a handful of articles from the business section on news outlets like BBC will give you a good idea of trends in the economy, and issues that businesses care about – this is really important for commercial awareness.

Reece Parsons