My Career: ‘I didn’t take a straight line into this role’

Name: Tamsin O’Callaghan

Age: 28

Lives: Glanmire, Cork

Job title: Associate Solicitor

Education background: I completed my undergraduate degree in Commerce (BComm) in University College Cork. I majored in law and went on to complete a postgraduate in Law (LLB).

Hobbies: I enjoy sea swimming and paddleboarding, as well as baking and cooking, which are all great ways for me to unwind and switch off outside of work.

Describe your job in five words: Fast-paced, challenging, demanding, varied and rewarding.

Describe yourself in five words: Hardworking, thorough, organised, dependable, and determined.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

This kind of work requires you to be organised, focused, and have effective time management skills. It also requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly and confidently. The ability to prioritise and work under pressure is essential as you are often handling multiple matters simultaneously.

How long are you doing this job?

I began my first internship after college in 2020 while I undertook the Law Society entrance exams, known as FE1 exams. Once I completed these exams, I began the PPC Hybrid Course in December, 2022, and I qualified in 2025.

How did you get this job?

I didn’t take a straight line into this role. After my Leaving Cert, I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do, and I chose Commerce in UCC because it offered a wide range of options. It was during the tutorials for my law modules that things really clicked – I found myself genuinely enjoying studying and wanting to learn more.

I was fortunate that I had excellent tutors and lecturers who encouraged that interest, and ultimately, I decided to major in law.

From there, the path towards becoming a solicitor became clearer. I went on to complete my LLB, and I joined JRAP O’Meara solicitors as a legal intern while completing my final year. I was determined to gain practical experience early on and working in the office gave me invaluable exposure.

Finishing my LLB in 2020 meant balancing exams, covid restrictions, and FE1 preparation, all while working in the office, but that experience built resilience and starting at intern level made a significant difference.

At the Law Society, trainees can qualify through either the traditional Professional Practice Course (PPC) or the newer PPC Hybrid route. The traditional route involves trainees stepping out of office to attend full-time in person in Blackhall, whereas the PPC Hybrid allows trainees to remain working in their firm four days a week while completing lectures online and attending in person some Fridays and Saturdays.

Although I had the option of the traditional PPC course, I opted for the PPC Hybrid route because it allowed me to remain in practice and receive credit for my in-office training during that time.

This meant I progressed my training continuously and was able to qualify sooner than under the traditional route.

After completing the PPC and while finishing my in-office training, I continued to study by undertaking a Certificate in Conveyancing and a Certificate in Commercial Contracts with the Law Society. Completing these as a trainee allowed me to avail of a reduced fee, and I was keen to further develop my skills while actively working in practice.

When the opportunity arose to join O’Flynn Exhams LLP as an associate in the corporate department, it felt like a natural progression. My background in both commerce and law, together with the experience I had gained throughout my training and studies, aligned well with a commercial practice and the direction I wanted to take my career.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

It’s helpful to have a legal qualification, but it is not necessary to have studied law to become a solicitor. You need to pass the eight FE1 exams to partake in the Professional Practice Course (PPC) and find a training contract with a solicitor or firm and complete the two-year in-office training required. The FE1 exams are the hardest part of the qualification process, most solicitors agree that they are incredibly challenging, but once completed, the hardest step is behind you.

Describe a day at work: I usually arrive to work before 9am and begin the day by checking emails and reviewing my diary. No two days are ever the same, and my work can range from drafting documents to legal research, attending client meetings or calls.

At lunch, when I have time, I meet up with other colleagues. I’m lucky that there are a lot of us in Cork, and it is a really supportive network.

How many hours do you work a week? 40-45 a week, depending on how busy it is.

Is your industry male or female-dominated? The legal profession in Ireland is now female-dominated and the majority of the trainees on my PPC course were women.

Does this affect you in any particular way? Absolutely, it is really motivating to see successful women in this profession. I’ve been particularly influenced by the examples set by my female colleagues.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10: It definitely can be a stressful job at times. This job involves strict deadlines, high expectations and significant responsibility.

However, there is now a greater awareness within the profession of the impact on our mental health. For example, during the PPC Hybrid course, we completed professional wellbeing sessions, aimed at helping us develop practical ways to manage the stress and demands of the job.

Do you work with others or on your own?

I work both independently and as part of a team within the corporate department at O’Flynn Exhams LLP. While I am responsible for progressing matters, the firm has a strong collaborative culture, and I work closely with partners and colleagues across different practice areas to deliver practical, commercially focused advice to clients.

When do you plan to retire or give up working? I’m only starting my career, and I am very happy in my role and the firm I work in, so I can’t imagine giving it up!

Best bits: Finding a solution to a tough problem. It is really satisfying to see results.

Worst bits: It can be hard to switch off from work; I often catch myself thinking about work when I get home, and maintain a good work-life balance.

Advice to those who want your job? I would strongly encourage anyone considering a career as a solicitor to gain in-office experience. The hands-on exposure to legal matters gave me a more informed understanding of the subject matter when I was studying and assisted when seeking a training contract. Most firms award training contracts to their interns.

Any other comments? There is a strong sense of community, which is a defining feature of the profession. During Blackhall (my training at the Law Society), there is an emphasis on getting to know your colleagues, and you are really close to the people you qualify alongside.

The Law Society also engages trainees who have recently completed the PPC to return and support incoming trainees.

This culture of mentorship reinforces the profession’s commitment to peer support, and there are many opportunities to stay involved through committees and associations. I am on the Law Society Younger Members Committee, which advocates for solicitors with 0-7PQE (post qualification experience) and also organises CPD events and networking opportunities for our colleagues.