It's six months since Emily Drew became a fully fledged solicitor at Scott Bailey Solicitors in Lymington and, following the interest shown in her previous article about behind the scenes as a trainee solicitor, she's written another about her new working life since qualifying. It's as entertaining as the first - read here!

Article by Scott Bailey Solicitors

Pictured below are Celia Hawson and Emily Drew from Scott Bailey

Read Emily's previous article here

6 months as a qualified Solicitor

You might remember my article from August 2023, when I wrote about a day in the life of a trainee solicitor.  It seems lots of people enjoyed reading about what happens behind the scenes at Scott Bailey, and as last week marked six months since I joined the roll as a solicitor, I thought I would share my journey since qualifying.

I qualified into the Company and Commercial department in September 2024 to work alongside Ben Ironmonger, Partner and Head of Department, and Celia Hawson, Paralegal. Embarking on the journey as a newly qualified solicitor has been both exhilarating and challenging to say the least, but I am fortunate to work for a firm which both supports and encourages me in my progression. It is fair to say that I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in a variety of legal matters, networking, marketing, social events and much more.

Legal Matters

Following qualification, I run more of my own files from start to finish and these are typically a variety of matters such as contract reviews, providing independent legal advice, and drafting loan agreements, as well as a little favourite of mine – buying and selling houseboats! The Company and Commercial team actually also leads the firm’s marine offering, so it’s not all business.  I have already built up lasting connections with clients and experienced a variety of different legal areas – whilst also maintaining a compliant file (when solicitors ask you to fill out piles of paperwork and jump through hoops to provide ID – it’s not just for fun I assure you).  

I also work on transactional matters alongside Ben which involves buying and selling all kinds of different businesses – from pubs, dental practices and domiciliary care, to engineering, marinas, and so much more. We assist clients with every step of the process, from negotiating heads of terms, to managing the completion process and ensuring our clients are updated and understand the process throughout. This is one of the areas I really enjoy as you get to help clients from start to finish and it is a great feeling when you get to tell them that they have completed and they can begin their next journey.

Social Events

We have recently created a social committee at Scott Bailey which I am a part of. The firm encourage the staff to foster a relationship outside of work and create many opportunities to do so – everyone here gets along really well and we love a social! Some of the events that the social committee are involved with planning are the staff Summer and Christmas parties, Easter events, weekly Friday Fiesta!

Networking and Marketing

I have always been quite heavily involved with networking and I am sure many people have seen me out and about at various different events. Since qualifying, I have been going to a number of different events locally as well as further afield. As Scott Bailey is a member of British Marine, I have also found myself travelling the lovely areas surrounding Hamble to network with other marine businesses.

In November, I was involved with the judging of the Scott Bailey Professional Services award with the New Forest Business Partnership which was a brilliant experience, and involved presenting the award at the Brilliance in Business Awards.

I currently organise the Scott Bailey Women in Business group which has gone from strength to strength, and I am also looking at setting up a new group for young professionals in the region.

All in all, it has been a busy first six months of learning and growth but I have certainly started as I mean to go on. Each day has brought new challenges and opportunities and I am excited to see where my journey continues to take me. If you need any assistance with legal matters relating to your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Read Emily's previous article here 

Contact Scott Bailey for a confidential initial meeting

Call- 01590 676933
Email- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website- scottbailey.co.uk

Sign up for Scott Bailey's newsletter here

Find out more about Scott Bailey LLP, including opening hours and social media links.

Founded in 1930, Scott Bailey has grown to become a leading firm in the New Forest, providing a full range of legal services to private individuals and businesses. Services for individuals include Residential Conveyancing, Divorce, Family, Wills Trusts & Probate, Litigation & Disputes.

SME business legal services include Corporate, Commercial, Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution, Landlord & Tenant, Insolvency and Employment Law. Scott Bailey LLP is one of only a very few firms based in the New Forest providing these specialist services. 

The first firm in the region to receive the Law Society's prestigious LEXCEL award for high standards of practice management and customer care, Scott Bailey LLP promises top-quality, professional help from a team of expert solicitors who will put your best interests at the heart of their work.

Scott Bailey was delighted and proud to win "Business of the Year" at the 2023 New Forest Brilliance in Business Awards - read story here.