The newly-qualified’s view - Keni Carmichael

Keni Carmichael is a solicitor in Harper Macleod’s dispute resolution team. He qualified in 2022, 14 years after joining the firm aged 17.

To some, that may sound like a long legal traineeship, and while Keni’s route to qualifying has been different, it has been rigorous.

Keni joined Harper Macleod in 2008 as a junior administrator. After two years in this role he became a paralegal in the firm’s growing debt and asset recovery team.

It was at this early stage in Keni’s career that he recognised his affinity and aptitude for the law, and wanted to take his legal career to the next stage.

In 2013 Keni started the law degree course at Glasgow Caledonian University, which required him to attend evening classes, twice a week, for four and a half years. This was on top of his full-time day job.

By 2014 Keni had made an internal move within Harper Macleod. Working as a trade mark assistant in the Intellectual Property & Technology team, Keni had the opportunity to work closer with partners of the firm and also gained experience in a different area of commercial law.

Keni graduated in 2017 and looked to progress his legal career further, by undertaking the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice full time at the University of Glasgow. Keni took a year’s break from the firm to enable him to complete his diploma.

Keni was successful in applying for Harper Macleod’s graduate scheme during his undergrad, undertaking the same comprehensive application process others would take.

His traineeship saw him take seats in Harper Macleod’s dispute resolution, banking and public sector teams, before becoming a newly-qualified solicitor in 2022.

“I was relatively young when I first joined the firm, and wasn’t totally clear on what I wanted to do. However, I was willing to work hard, and to learn from people around me.

“I was very lucky to be surrounded by a talented team, which inspired me to develop my career and to work towards becoming a fully-qualified solicitor. All the way through my degree, diploma and traineeship, I’ve been able to call on my colleagues for their assistance.

“Admittedly, I’ve taken a different route to others in the same position, but Harper Macleod has supported me every step of the way, and encouraged me to continually improve and to develop.

“There is a real culture of promotion from within, and supporting colleagues to be better.

“What also inspired me is that there are lots of examples of Harper Macleod partners who joined the firm as trainees. That is a recognisable career path I’m keen to follow. I know I’ll continue to have the support to help me along the way.”