For Kirsty Chettle, the decision to pursue the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) was driven by her ambition to succeed: “The end goal for myself would be to become a CILEX Lawyer.”
Kirsty has been working at Wilson Browne Solicitors since she was 18, beginning as an office junior before progressing into a legal secretary role in the private client department. Over the years her responsibilities grew. Encouraged by Wilson Browne, she began her CILEX journey and later transitioned to the new CPQ qualification through Law Training Centre.
The support from her employer has been crucial to her success: “Wilson Browne have always been very supportive of my studies…they funded that for me on the understanding that I would study hard and take all of my exams, so I’ve got no student debt at all!”
On top of her dreams of qualifying, Kirsty’s passion for helping others has also kept her motivated throughout her studies. In her work with Wilson Browne, she has had the opportunity to work with many vulnerable clients and finds fulfilment in advising them and offering legal support. She tells us, “The main reason that I pursued a career in law is that I like to help people”.
When she switched to studying CPQ with Law Training Centre, Kirsty realised that flexible online learning was a game-changer, telling us: “It is better for me because I can study on my own time and then also gain more practical knowledge, working full time for the week”. She continues, “I can spend a week with my clients and then I can spend my weekends or a day in the week studying. For me, it’s really good.”
For Kirsty, pursuing the CPQ pathway wasn’t only about her career. It was about proving something important: “I wanted to show that just because you haven’t been to university doesn’t mean that you can’t have a career.”
Kirsty’s journey shows that you don’t necessarily need to spend tens of thousands of pounds on university and further qualifications to have a successful legal career, and that with dedication, flexible study and the right support, anything is possible. With her sights set firmly on becoming a CILEX Lawyer, Kirsty is already making an impact.
