David Bevis

Current Employer/Organisation Name

William Sturges LLP

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

After my placement year I was recruited by the same firm to work part time in their Estate Administration department in my final year of university.  Upon graduating, I moved to a new paralegal job closer to home with Irwin Mitchell in their private client department developing skills learnt in my placement. I then took a new job with my current firm where I worked as a paralegal across both their private client and civil litigation departments. After a year I was promoted to a trainee, and am currently in their residential property department.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I think my placement cemented by interest in private client law. It gave me real, practical experience working in a legal environment which I think set me up well and complimented my LPC. I enjoy the personal level of working directly with clients and assisting them during difficult and emotional times. As a trainee solicitor (and paralegal before that), I have enjoyed the breadth of work I have come across, especially when I picked up litigation.

I have been given real responsibility and management of my own caseload, and exposure to a range of cases from simple Wills to high net-worth probates. I have been fortunate that my current firm also gave me experience, at a paralegal level, to litigation as well as private client, and I have come across a range of cases from employment law to landlord and tenant. This has essentially “extended” my training contract and gave me a firmer experience.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I was a member of the squash club during my second and final years.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I enjoyed the professional placement most of all. It provided me with broad insight into an office role, and I enjoyed the responsibility and real world aspects of the profession. It helped me gain an insight to the legal profession, and the essential “in” at a junior level which I think a lot of students struggle with so I was able to get employed straight out of university. 

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

I loved the campus at Streatham, though I mostly enjoyed studying in the St Luke’s library. I liked the rural location of Exeter and it’s exposure to the countryside.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I visited Exeter on an open day and appreciated the location and campus. The law school was also highly ranked.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Handling my own caseload helped me establish a good time management system as well as general confidence in working in an office job. It is also useful to see what the actual field is like compared to what you learn as part of your degree which does not always correlate to the actual career. Dealing with the public is essential in a lot of client facing roles, therefore that experience is useful to help build up resilience and confidence.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

I would highly recommend a placement. I think most student struggle with employability upon graduating , and a placement gives you that “in” at a junior level. Upon graduating I had a job straight out of uni which I think people struggle with. It also gave me a years exposure to an area of law to see whether I enjoyed it and wanted to continue it in future.

Whilst the pressure is to apply for training contracts during second and third year, I would strongly suggest considering a job as a paralegal. Especially in smaller firms you are treated as a quasi trainee which does help with the training contract, and it does give you exposure to an area of law to see if you want to continue that as a career. The training contract is very short so any additional experience is incredibly useful and will help you more feel more comfortable when qualifying.

What are your plans for the future?

I am due to finish my training contract in 2025 and I am looking forward to qualifying as solicitor.