Meet Zoe and hear about her internship at William Fry

Over the three weeks, I gained first-hand experience working on real legal matters alongside structured professional development, while also being welcomed into an environment that encouraged interns to get involved from the very beginning. One of the strongest aspects of the programme for me was the level of support available throughout. 

From our first day the programme directors made a real effort to ensure we felt comfortable asking questions, seeking guidance and getting involved within our teams. Having both a Trainee-buddy and a Partner-mentor made settling into the firm feel much more natural. 

I was placed primarily within the Funds and Asset Management team where my buddy was always available to offer advice both personal and professional. She encouraged me to be proactive and curious when taking on new tasks, particularly as I had limited prior exposure to this area. Additionally, my mentor never hesitated to make time to offer support, answer questions and check in which hugely impacted my confidence. By involving me in transactional calls and real client matters she also offered me valuable exposure to the practical realities of legal work. 

Across the firm I found people at all levels to be approachable and generous with their time, which made it easy to speak up and ask for help when needed. A particular highlight of the programme for me was the SpeedLaw sessions. These sessions gave us the chance to hear directly from each department in an informal and engaging setting, ask questions, and speak openly with associates and partners about their work. 

I also benefited greatly from the firm’s focus on learning and development. Workshops on business writing, presentation skills and firm systems pushed us to develop new skills, all while ensuring we felt supported throughout and more importantly enjoyed the process. 

Outside of work, the social side of the programme played a massive role in helping me settle in and as a result, I have created lasting meaningful friendships with fellow interns. Weekly diverse social events, along with everyday conversations over coffee and lunch, organically created a warm and relaxed atmosphere allowing us to build connections easily. One standout moment for me was the visit to Barretstown. It was an extremely impactful day, and a memorable bonding experience that also gave real insight into the positive impact of the firm’s charitable work. 

Overall, my time at William Fry confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in commercial law and I was delighted to be offered a traineeship contract following the programme. Seeing the opportunity to continue developing my career in such a supportive environment has given me a clear sense of direction moving forward. I would strongly recommend the programme to any student looking for a challenging, formative but genuinely fulfilling and positive internship experience.