Kathy Garside, programme and student lead of the SQE programme at ULaw Birmingham, discusses her career journey, advice for aspiring solicitors and the best things about the city’s legal market
As programme and student lead of the SQE programme at The University of Law’s Birmingham campus, Kathy Garside leverages her own experience as a commercial litigation lawyer in the UK’s second city to help future generations of solicitors make their way into the profession.
Ahead of her appearance at our in-person student event ‘Secrets to Success Birmingham — with Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith, Squire Patton Boggs, Browne Jacobson and ULaw’, Legal Cheek Careers sat down with Kathy to pick her brains on the skills that make a successful lawyer and how students can develop these inside and outside the classroom — as well as her top tips for securing the TC of your dreams.
Can you walk us through your career journey and how you got to where you are today?
Whilst studying for my A levels, I took everyone in my family, including myself, by surprise when I announced that I wanted to become a lawyer. I graduated from Cambridge University, decided that the solicitor path was for me and then took my Law Society Finals (just before the Legal Practice Course came into existence). These were pretty challenging exams (even by SQE standards) and equally memorable for having to buy the early edition of the Times newspaper in Charing Cross at midnight on results day to find out whether I had passed!
I secured a training contract at a mid-size commercial firm in London following a vacation placement. I liked every seat, but particularly loved the excitement and challenge of commercial litigation, so I decided that was the practice area for me.
After qualification, I moved to Birmingham and was bowled over by the calibre of the opportunities available. I landed a position at Gowling WLG (then Wragge & Co) where I stayed for the next 25 years, becoming a Legal Director in their Dispute Resolution Group. I loved it there, leading a team disqualifying dodgy company directors as well as running complex, high-value and sometimes high-profile disputes. My final case in practice was a huge international arbitration in Zurich in 2020 — I was fortunate the final hearing finished just in time for me to fly home before the Covid quarantine hit.
What motivated you to work in legal education?
Whilst in practice the favourite part of my job was supervising trainee and junior lawyers and helping them to grow and develop. And I guess after 25 years as a solicitor, I decided I wanted a new challenge and an opportunity to pursue this mentoring role further. So, again I surprised myself (and my family and colleagues) by embarking on a career change. I applied to the Birmingham campus of the University of Law to see if they wanted someone like me to help teach the next generation of lawyers –luckily, they did! I started as a lecturer on their LPC and SQE programmes whilst gaining my teaching qualifications (gosh, that was hard going back to studying for the first time in over 25 years!) I am now delighted to be the Programme and Student Lead of the SQE programme on the Birmingham campus.
How does your experience as a qualified solicitor influence your role at The University of Law?
Alongside ensuring that the SQE programmes are running smoothly and that my students are progressing well, most days I am to be found teaching dispute resolution and practical skills modules. I always try to bring my experience from practice into the classroom to show students how the knowledge and skills they are learning from books and practising with their peers will be utilised when they are in practice. So, if we are learning about injunctions, I will illustrate my teaching with an example of one I worked on in practice, explaining how the junior lawyers around me would be an integral part of the team, working 24/7 to draft urgent court documents, liaise with counsel and the court, instruct process servers, assemble evidence and record their time carefully, all whilst communicating effectively with clients and colleagues.
I am really enthusiastic about my time in practice — I loved it and I hope I communicate that to my students, so they can see an exciting future for themselves when their SQE studies are completed and all their hard work has paid off.
What are the skills that aspiring lawyers need as they enter the profession?
Aspiring lawyers obviously need a solid understanding of the law and how it is used in practice. They also need excellent communication skills, both written and oral, to interact effectively with clients and colleagues within their teams. The study and practical training involved in qualifying as a solicitor are competitive and demanding, so dedication and commitment are essential. Law firms also expect trainees to be commercially aware and capable of negotiating effectively. A strong academic background, along with evidence of research and analytical skills, is required. Additionally, qualities such as integrity, creativity, accuracy, and the ability to use initiative to solve problems will help candidates stand out. Soft skills are equally important — individuals with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to integrate well into established teams are more likely to succeed. Resilience and self-confidence are also crucial for aspiring lawyers to thrive as they enter the profession.
Increasingly, the ability to understand legal technology is an important skill. There is no expectation that you can code but understanding how technology works and being able to use key terms and concepts goes a very long way.
How does the SQE help law students develop some of these skills?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a series of centralised assessments taken in two stages: SQE1 and SQE2. SQE1, which must be taken first, tests Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK). This is the core knowledge that the SRA believes a newly-qualified solicitor must possess. FLK is extremely wide-ranging, reflecting the different possible career paths of an aspiring solicitor. SQE2 then builds on FLK to establish the basics of practical legal skills including legal writing, legal drafting, interviewing and advocacy, in a variety of practice contexts. Aspiring solicitors must pass the SRA’s assessments in both SQE1 and SQE2 to establish their fundamental competence to practise. They are also required to complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). QWE is pivotal, as it offers practical insight into legal practice and allows candidates to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. QWE replaces the need to secure a traditional training contract, offering greater flexibility in how work experience is gained. However, many law firms continue to follow the traditional training contract structure. A combination of QWE and SQE preparation will help aspiring lawyers develop the essential skills needed for a successful legal career.
The SQE is good a developing core legal skills of memorising and applying “black letter law” but isn’t so good at testing things like competence in legal technology, interpersonal skills and creativity. The SQE also has limited depth in respect of any given legal area, because the syllabus is so wide. If students wish to develop their skills and acquire deeper understanding, they are likely to need a course of study that goes beyond the minimum SQE requirements, such as the University of Law LLM (SQE1&2) in Legal Practice.
What can students do outside of their studies to develop some of the key skills the SQE might not teach?
The SRA’s syllabus for SQE1 and SQE2 is very broad, but because of that it is not necessarily deep. One way for students to develop knowledge and skills beyond the SQE1 and SQE2 syllabus is to take a course such as the University of Law LLM (SQE1&2) in Legal Practice that offers additional, deeper content in specific subject areas corresponding with specific career aspirations and the needs of potential legal employers. On the University’s LLM (SQE1&2) course this content is mostly contained in a unique learning module called ‘SQE Plus’.
Law students can also take part in a variety of other activities outside their academic studies to enhance their legal knowledge, develop essential skills and gain valuable experience. At the University of Law, we offer an established Pro Bono service that provides invaluable work experience with real clients. Every law student is encouraged to participate during their time at the University, as it helps develop key employability skills essential for a successful legal career. Pro Bono work is also a great way to network within the legal industry and build a strong CV. In addition to Pro Bono, our Employability Service supports students in exploring and applying for vacation schemes, internships and volunteering opportunities. Students are also encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities such as mooting and debating societies. Furthermore, they can use their free time to pursue hobbies, connect with legal professionals, and stay up to date with legal developments through podcasts, blogs and other resources.
What is the best thing about being based in Birmingham as an aspiring lawyer?
As the UK’s second-largest legal centre, Birmingham has a thriving legal market. Many national and international law firms have significant offices in the city — including Gowling WLG, Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith, Squire Patton Boggs and Browne Jacobson — offering excellent training contract opportunities and access to strong professional networks.
Birmingham is also a commercial hub, with growing business, financial and tech sectors. Lawyers here work on complex and varied cases across industries such as construction, real estate, finance and technology. Compared to London, Birmingham offers a more affordable cost of living, which can make a significant difference for trainees and junior solicitors starting their careers. The city also has an active legal community, with access to groups such as Birmingham Law Society, Birmingham Solicitors’ Group, Birmingham Trainee Solicitors’ Society and Birmingham Black Lawyers. These organisations provide valuable networking events, mentoring and careers advice to support aspiring lawyers.
What advice would you give aspiring solicitors who are preparing to start their training contract applications this autumn?
Applying for training contracts is a crucial and competitive step, so preparing strategically can make a big difference. My advice is to begin your research early and create a shortlist of firms that genuinely interest you. Consider factors such as the firm’s culture, practice areas, client base and the quality of training on offer. Understand each firm’s recruitment timeline and build your application strategy around it.
When applying, clearly articulate why you want to work at that specific firm and how your values align with theirs. Enhance your commercial awareness by understanding how law and business intersect. Follow key commercial stories and trends and engage with relevant podcasts and blogs to stay informed.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure competency-based answers, drawing from your own experiences. Always explain what you learned and how those experiences have helped you develop transferable skills relevant to a trainee solicitor role. Don’t underestimate the value of non-legal experiences — use them wisely to demonstrate skills such as teamwork, client care and communication.
Finally, make full use of your university’s careers service. They can offer tailored advice, support with applications and help you prepare effectively for interviews — all of which can significantly boost your chances of success.
Kathy Garside will be speaking at ‘Secrets to Success Birmingham — with Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith, Squire Patton Boggs, Browne Jacobson and ULaw’, an in-person student event taking place THIS WEEK on Thursday 19 June. Apply now to attend.
About Legal Cheek Careers posts.
