HewardMills' Data Protection and Privacy (DPP) Solicitor Qualification Programme was recently devised in collaboration with one of our junior team members and has led to them becoming the company’s first employee to qualify as a solicitor (England & Wales) using their experience on the job.Under the HewardMillsprogramme, and in line with qualification requirements, candidates need to be studying towards or have passed the required solicitor exams and curate examples of tasks delivered on behalf of clients where their regulatory skills are applied.
The inspiration behind the scheme
Camille AbouFarhat joined HewardMills in September 2022, having just begun his journey to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. At the time, he had already qualified as a lawyer in Lebanon and was simultaneously studying for the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) while working full-time.
Camille picked up the work of a client manager relatively quickly and was promoted to Data Protection and Privacy (DPP) Consultant within a year. It was during his training to become a DPP analyst thatthe idea to pioneer a formal solicitor training path within HewardMillswas envisioned. The programme requires completion of the solicitor qualification exams (SQE1 and SQE2), as well as two years of qualifying work experience. At HewardMills, the programme was tailored around data protection and privacy law. Trainees must undertake a wide variety of client-facing projects, legal assessments, and work through compliance queries ranging in complexity levels. This is combined with ongoing mentorship, internal training sessions, and real-world application of legal principles under the stewardship of subject matter experts and experienced data protection and privacy senior team members.
Unlike traditional training contracts at law firms, this programme is focused specifically on data protection and privacy. Rather than rotating through departments, trainees can specialise deeply in one area, which gives them a more advanced understanding of the privacy sector much earlier in their career.
There’s also significantly more responsibility given to trainees on this programme, and the work is very hands-on. Unlike a traditional law firm, the training structure is more flexible, allowing for personal initiative and creativity when it comes to meeting the required competencies.
Camille says the most difficult aspect of theHewardMills' DPP Solicitor Qualification Programme is balancing studying with delivering complex client work. However, with the flexibility from senior leadership at HewardMills,he feels that there is no better place to train - especially if you want to specialise in privacy regulations. He added: “It’s a unique opportunity to build expertise in a fast-growing, impactful field, and to do so in a supportive and mission-driven environment. For anyone considering this route, I’demphasise the importance of tracking your work. As a solicitor-in-training, you need to map your day-to-day activities to the required competencies. While the programme is designed to support your growth, it's up to the trainee to maintain a personal log and ensure that all experiences are properly documented for your solicitor mentor. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and fully recommend this approach as an alternative consideration to the traditional law firm route.”
As a BCorp committed to the welfare and development of our people, we are proud to have been part of Camille’s journey to qualifying as a solicitor and look forward to equipping more budding solicitors on their path to qualification.
