Rating

8.1/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • My role is generally concerned with disclosure which gets put forth to the defence during criminal proceedings. This entails document review, preparing and collating interview bundles, transcribing interviews, checking interview statements, ensuring that my portfolio for college is complete and up to date, revision for CiLex exams, and attending meetings.

    10/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I have learned a variety of new skills during my role. I have developed interpersonal and communication skills which has happened through a variety of training courses. I have learned how to adapt under pressure, write documents concisely and clearly, and how to effectively communicate in the workplace. My analytical skills have greatly improved, alongside my understanding of Financial law, and how my company protects the integrity of the UK Financial markets.

    10/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • Genuinely, I really enjoy my programme. I believe that when you have a great understanding of the importance of your role you begin to enjoy your daily role a lot more. I believe that the FCA is flexible, coherent to all of our needs, and provides genuine support for all of the apprentices, no matter the age, gender, or even course you are undertaken. My role as an apprentice is so diverse that it is hard to not enjoy my programme.

    10/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • My employer is incredibly up-to-speed with my needs for my day to day role and my academic work for BPP. I have consistently been prioritised to complete all training courses available, such as: the investigation foundation course, interview foundation training, search training, clearer-content (how to write reports effectively, and concisely). On the other hand, BPP are significantly less structured. I think they are over-prescribed on courses. It is sometimes hard to receive a response, and other times when you receive a response it is not adequate or does not match up with previous advice.

    9/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • I receive an incredible amount of support from my employer. Again, this is represented by the amount of courses I am eligible to undertake. This shows that they have commitment to training me to ensure I can reach my full potential as a paralegal. My employer is also extremely flexible, and whenever I have needs such as to work from home, or have another study day as I haven't completed all of my work, this is always accommodated. During exam periods, my employer has been outstanding.

    10/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • I do receive support from my training provider (BPP). My apprenticeship manager is incredible, will always reply when I have questions and will always do his best to help me when it is needed. On the other hand, my portfolio coach at times can seem like they do not understand what we must do to complete the qualification to the standard the CiLex expect. A lot of the times the questions I have asked they have been unable to answer my questions, if I get a reply. My tutor for my academic subjects delivered online, rarely ever replies even in times when I have seriously needed it, such as just before my January exam. The tutors have provided conflicting timetables which has made life very confusing.

    5/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • I believe that the qualification I study is not specific to my role at all. The portfolio outcomes, which we have to complete, are tailored to apprentices who work in high-street firms and are not broad enough at all. Working in a regulatory body, a lot of the time it becomes difficult to find work that supports the outcome- such as, 'Understand client billing processes'. I have no contact with clients, and this is just not represented in my role.

    1/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • Yes- we have many. We have the Do No Harm Network, The BAME Network, the Paralegal/Forensic Investigator/Lawyer Network which provides regular seminars to keep employees up-to-speed with new changes surrounding their role, the social mobility network and many more. We also have a netball, football, kayaking and many more sports clubs. We are also offered activities at an additional cost such as Gym classes (Spin/Cardio etc), Spanish/Italian classes, volunteering opportunities across London. We also have 'away-days' where as a department we collate ideas and decide what plan of action we should have for the year, which is also great for networking and meeting new people in your department. Lastly, we also have team lunches when appropriate to do so: such as when I first started to integrate the apprentices my department took us bowling and to a lunch, xmas lunches, etc.

    10/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend FCA to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • The FCA is an outstanding place to start your career. There are so many opportunities that you would not be able to have working in a private high-street firm. The appreciation of apprentices does not go a miss, no matter how inconvenient your role may feel in comparison to the rest of your teams (who may be experienced investigators, lawyers, forensic accountants and so many more!). You also manage to get great advice and tips from your team who have been in your role before. I firmly believe that the FCA is an remarkable place to work, and it is impossible to feel inadequate and every day can be different so it is hard not to enjoy yourself.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to FCA?
  • Make sure you thoroughly know the role you are applying for. You need to understand the difference between a paralegal working for the FCA versus a paralegal working in a solicitors firm. You need to research about the FCA, the type of work we do, who we regulate, and case examples to fully understand the breadth of work we do. When applying for the FCA, be yourself, the FCA embraces it's diversity and it makes us who we are.


Details

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Legal/Law

March 2020


View More Reviews
Recruiting? See how we can help you