After qualifying in another discipline, I came to AG to follow a change in practice. I had always thought that a big firm like AG would have a fairly standard corporate environment, but AG is a far more interesting and nurturing place than I had imagined. The support and investment I have received in the short amount of time I have been here is enlightening. 

I joined the Transaction Services Team (TST) due to some really open, honest conversations about what was best for my career. The move gave me the space to learn the fundamentals of a transaction in a structured and supportive way. It was an unexpected step, but a positive one, and I really took to life in the team.

A short time after I joined TST, a management role came up that was a hybrid of fee-earning and people management. At a check-in my manager encouraged me to apply as she thought it was a great match for my skills. The role was great, but it was never part of the plan I had envisaged for myself when I thought about my legal career. Before I applied, I had to reconcile the emotions involved with adjusting my career path, it was not easy, but I was well supported and set up to succeed as my role changed at the firm.

One of the things I love most about AG’s culture is that everyone is encouraged to have a voice. There is nothing standard about how this firm treats people. Ideas and perspectives are genuinely listened to, and I always try to embody that collaborative approach in TST F&P where we work closely with our Group and Sponsor Partners. Part of our AG2030 strategy is built on Investment in the Right Culture, it’s great to see it in action at every level of the firm.

Support in AG is in many different forms, from personal and managerial, to training and development. The latter has played a crucial role in building my confidence and equipping me with practical tools that I can use every day. 

Recently I was part of the firm’s Sustainable Success Programme, and it was an excellent experience. After going through the course, I have set up some healthy habits and positive personal goals. I have incorporated physical activity and set meals into my working week, which has made me approach my day in a positive way. Sustainable Success was really timely for me, and I was so encouraged to know that I work at a firm that actually cares about my long-term health, wellbeing and performance, not just the short-term contribution I deliver to my team.

Joining this firm has been full of surprises, and being here has led to opportunities that I would have never considered. I am excited to see how my career evolves next.