My Career: ‘I made up my mind at 16 that that's where I was going to work'

Name: Sarah McNulty

Age: 33

Lives: Cork city centre

Job title: Associate Solicitor

Education background:I completed my primary and secondary school education through Irish and then went on to study law at University College Cork for three years, graduating with an honours Bachelor of Law degree. After that, I began the study for the Law Society of Ireland Entrance Exams, known as ‘Fe1 Exams’. Once I passed all eight, and having secured an apprenticeship, I undertook the Professional Practice Course to train to become a solicitor.

Hobbies: I love hot pilates, swimming, and walking my dog, Henry, in the woods or on a beach!

Describe your job in five words: A source of immense satisfaction, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding.

Describe yourself in five words: Determined, optimistic, loyal, diligent, impatient.

Personality needed for this kind of work? You need to have backbone. The nature of litigation means you are challenged every single day and naturally you have ‘opponents’ with a conflicting view trying to trump yours. You can’t lose sight of your principles or values. Courtesy and respect are important traits. Two pieces of advice I have received are, firstly, it’s good to be able to roll with the punches and not get bogged down on any one matter, and secondly, when you lose, say little, and when you win, say less!

How long are you doing this job? I qualified in 2020 but worked in the firm for five years before that.

How did you get this job?

My interest in pursuing a career in law began from a very young age. I suppose we are often drawn to what we know. My dad worked as a solicitor for many years and I remember going into his office as a child, fascinated by the surroundings and environment. I can be strong-willed and enjoyed English in school, and debating. I loved school - I went to Coláiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire, which is a great schoolwith brilliant teachers.

At 16, I did my work experience in Cantillons Solicitors. After the two weeks, I decided “that’s where I am going to work” and that was my mind made up. When I filled out the CAO form, I put down nine law courses! I actually nearly put Trinity College Dublin as number one - but only because my older sister was studying law there, and I wanted to get enough points for that course, but turn them down for UCC!

The 10th course I chose was the iconic ‘Arts in UCC’ - which would have been a great alternative while I figured it all out. My younger sister used that course as a springboard to primary school teaching and, conversely, colleagues have used it as a basis for legal education. I got into the UCC BCL course.

I enjoyed college but found it more isolating than school at times. It’s only these days whenever I’m on the university grounds that I appreciate how special it is. I had part-time summer jobs in hospitality and worked in retail for a number of years during and after college, which were great opportunities to build confidence and develop people skills, and of course resilience!

Speaking of resilience, the Fe1 entrance exams were my biggest test in that department. They are a set of entrance exams but in reality, it’s like the Leaving Cert for lawyers. The exams are notoriously difficult to pass and I found that process very challenging, draining, and repetitive. I was dying to get out of the traps, and failing one exam meant a false start for me - more than once! It was my first time failing an exam and it was very disheartening.

I briefly considered abandoning ship, particularly when peers seemed to be moving up the ladder faster, for something more exciting than exams, like travelling or, actually, journalism! My mum talked me out of it and encouraged me to persevere - which I am very grateful for…most days! Deep down, I knew I wanted to ‘see it through’ and a big factor there was working in a legal environment throughout, and a trailblazing one at that, which kept the end goal in sight.

At that time, I was working with Karen Kearney in the medical negligence department of the firm and that was really exciting work to be involved in, assisting in preparing for huge cases and lengthy trials in the Four Courts was great exposure for a “pre-trainee”.

At the same time, I distracted myself with other aspects of life and I loved socialising with my friends after work every Friday without fail, nearly always starting from Electric on the Mall – we ignored casual Friday so we could hit the town in our best office outfits, like in Suits, even though we had been nowhere near a courtroom!

I did pass the last exam and took a window of opportunity to backpack around South America for a few months, which broadened my perspective further. I then began solicitor training at Blackhall Place, which brought me to Dublin for six months. I had a blast up there and made the most of it, but the stint solidified my preference for life in Cork.

The training course was excellent and so enjoyable - covering all aspects of legal profession - in one day, you might go from a lecture on probate legislation, to a mock court making legal submissions, to a workshop with actors posing as unreasonable clients, to a tutorial with actual practising solicitors.

During my time in Blackhall Place, one of the most memorable things was the Street Law programme, a volunteer programme which saw a gang of us teach Transition Year students in DEIS schools about legal concepts in interesting ways, which graduated to visiting Irish prisons to teach the same course.

After the six months, I returned to the firm to the general litigation department and worked with Jody Cantillon, who brought everything back to basics and brought me along to sit in to every consultation, inspection, and court appearance, from whom I learned a lot!

I really enjoyed the faster pace of general litigation and the interesting issues which crop up and how everything can turn on a dime.

I was delighted to be offered a job as a solicitor with Cantillons after my training contract ended and that was a rewarding milestone for me personally.

Nearly five years later, which feels like they passed in a flash, I remain with the same firm where I began my training, and am continuing to hone my skill. Some days I feel as though I have a lot to learn yet and a lot of honing to do, and other days I have the wind in my sails!

Do you need particular qualifications or experience? A legal qualification is a good place to start, be it a diploma or a degree, but believe it or not, you don’t need to have studied law at third level to become a lawyer. In fact, you don’t need any degree to be a solicitor, but everyone needs to pass the same eight fe1 exams.

Work experience in a solicitors’ firm or legal setting is so beneficial, especially to find out what area of law you would like to practice - which has a huge bearing on the type of legal career you will have.

You will need to secure a training contract (previously known as an apprenticeship) with a solicitor, who will undertake to oversee your in-office training (previously known as a master) so work experience is a great way to get your foot in the door somewhere.

How many hours do you work a week? 45-55

Is your industry male or female dominated? In fact, it is now a female-dominated industry in Ireland, which is a great achievement given the first female admitted to the role of solicitor was just 101 years ago, and for nearly 100 years before that, only men were permitted to practice. Women have come a long way in such a short space of time, unsurprisingly!

Does this affect you in any particular way? It’s very motivating really. I’m lucky enough to not only work in a female-dominant industry but a female-dominant firm. We have 40+ great women in Cantillons, and three men.

Over the past 10 years, I have been influenced by female colleagues who I consider to be tough but fair, strong-minded but pragmatic, and in particular who are successful but care about doing the right thing and going the extra mile on each occasion to achieve the very best result. I think they are qualities often found in women generally and that the profession is all the better for that contribution.

Is your job stressful? How?

It is a stressful job, or rather it can be at times.Working in legal practice in general, can be stressful so it is crucial to put in place outlets that allow you to detach from the job, whether it’s to blow off steam, or boost endorphins, or just get something off your chest!

I am on the Law Society Younger Members committee which advocates for solicitors with 0-7PQE (i.e. newly qualified solicitors to those in practice for seven years) and one of the central topics is the stresses of the job, and the impact that can have on mental health. It’s something that is afforded more consideration than before, and this is reflected by the Law Society offering free or subsidised counselling to solicitors through their membership.

Do you work with others or on your own? I work with a team of 40+, and our house is split largely down the middle, between general litigation and medical negligence. I am in the general litigation department, and we would often put our heads together and toss a problem around if you got stuck, but day in, day out, I work with my two legal secretaries, Beverley Morris and Sorcha Hickey, who assist me with all my files.

Ernest Cantillon, Managing Partner of the firm and my former master, oversees everything and is a great mentor - whose door is always open when in need of a steer!

When do you plan to retire or give up working? I’m just getting started!

Best bits: Achieving the right result after a tough slough!

Worst bits: Thinking about cases before you’ve even woken up!

Advice to those who want your job? Start from the bottom, leave any notions at the door, and be ready to put your shoulder to the wheel. In the beginning, I was delighted to pick up lunches or shred documents, if it meant I was in the right place. The key is to become indispensable and be a team player! Always listen to advice on offer to you, you can decide what you want to do later, but listen first.

Biggest supporter: My husband, Killian, is a great champion, friend and influence. His outlook and strategy on things give me a fresh perspective for my own work, which has led to ‘epiphanies’.