A University of Worcester Law graduate has been accepted onto a prestigious two-year training contract with a national firm.
Steph Atkins
Steph Atkins, 24, will begin her traineeship with Bevan Brittan, based in Birmingham, in September.
“I don’t think it's actually sunk in yet,” she said. “I am so excited. This is a dream come true for me. Training contracts are notoriously competitive and difficult to get, so this is just amazing.”
After leaving school at 16, Steph completed an apprenticeship with the NHS at a GP surgery. However, she always had an interest in law and decided she wanted to pursue a new challenge.
“I left school after my GCSEs and so I didn’t have any A-levels,” she said. “I couldn’t afford to give up work to do an Access course, so I thought university was something I’d never be able to do.”
Steph signed up for an Open University course and after a year, decided to pick up the phone to the University of Worcester to enquire about her options for further study.
“I spoke to the Head of Law, Bill Davies, who was just fantastic,” she said. “We talked about my prior experience in the workplace and the one-year course I’d just completed. It was really late in the academic year, but Bill advised me to make a late application through UCAS – I didn’t even know what UCAS was at that stage, so it was all a little daunting.”
Steph, a former pupil at former Evesham High School, went on to achieve First Class Honours in her LLB Law (Hons) degree, graduating in 2021.
Throughout her studies she worked part time in the Accident & Emergency department at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital as a receptionist on the front desk, including when the pandemic hit.
“Worcester Law School gave me a chance to study law when other universities would not due to my lack of A-levels,” she said. “Worcester seemed more interested in my life and work experience and I was so grateful to be given a chance to achieve my dreams. I owe a lot to Bill. He took a chance on me and I’ll always be grateful.”
During her degree Steph also achieved the Worcester Platinum Award, the highest honour given in an employability award scheme run by the University’s Careers & Employability team. She also volunteered weekly with Worcester Citizens Advice.
After completing her degree Steph began a Legal Practice Course, while applying for Training Contracts.
“I never imagined I would actually get one,” she said. “They are so competitive and I’d already tried with other firms previously and not got through, so it was a huge shock – but a good one!”
Steph, who lives in Broadway in the Cotswolds said she hoped the contract would lead to more opportunities to move forward with the firm in the future.