Bird & Bird trainee qualifies aged 50
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One of London’s oldest trainees has qualified six months ahead of schedule at Bird & Bird, after the City firm announced a 100 per cent retention rate.
The firm will be retaining all 16 trainees due to qualify in September this year, but 50-year-old Mary Smillie managed to complete her training contract in March after work experience was taken into account.
Smillie, who has qualified into the firm’s IP practice, said: “I’ve enjoyed my time at Bird & Bird and am thrilled to qualify into the seat I wanted. It’s great to see that everyone else has been kept.”
The former technical director for pharmaceutical company Teva said age can be a benefit to employers.
“I’m 50 but I still have a good number of years to give,” she said. “A lot of my younger colleagues are dreaming of partnership, but I’m not thinking about that because I really enjoy the job I do.”
The remaining 15 trainees will qualify into aviation, commercial, corporate, dispute resolution, employment and IP.
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Readers' comments (28)
Rob | 8-Jun-2009 10:17 am
Great news and gives hope to many out there that securing a training contract and qualification is possible. Wonder if she participates in the social aspect of being a trainee?
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Anonymous | 8-Jun-2009 4:20 pm
Great news! I'm a f40something and there's hope for me yet!
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Pips | 8-Jun-2009 4:20 pm
Fabulous! Just goes to show that she's doing it for the love of the job and not soley to go on and be a big-wig and earn tons of money. Good for her!
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Anonymous | 8-Jun-2009 4:23 pm
As a partner in a small IP/IT firm that actively recruits trainees who don't fit the usual trainee mould (and gets fantastic trainees and then solicitors as a result) I think this is an excellent story. It is just a shame that it is unusual enough to be news.
As regards "Rob's" post, what a strange question to ask. Plenty of trainees dont participate in the social aspects, regardless of age. Could you think of nothing more relevant to ask?
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Anonymous | 8-Jun-2009 4:29 pm
Companies are supposedly not prejudiced against "mature" candidates, but in reality the contrary is most often the case. Well done, Bird & Bird for such open-mindedness.
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Anonymous | 8-Jun-2009 4:35 pm
What a fantastic and heartwarming story, and good luck to Mary.
However, anyone who thinks this is a good omen as regards reducing age discrimination in the profession should think again.
Current economic woes have exacerbated what was already a truly miserable picture for anyone unfortunate enough to be categorised as 'old'.
How a supposedly enlightened and intelligent group of people (ie lawyers) can so wilfully and capriciously ignore the maxim that with age comes wisdom never ceases to amaze and depress me in equal measure.
Legal protection notwithstanding, the profession remains one of the most ageist in the country.
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Anonymous | 8-Jun-2009 4:38 pm
Hooray. How refreshing. I think it's a great idea to choose trainees from as wide a range as possible - not only in terms of educational background and culture but also age and life experience. A career in law can often be short anyway so qualifying at the age of 50 seems fine.
Well done to Bird & Bird for seeing the potential in this lady and to the lady in completing her training. Hope she has a fruitful career in law.
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Anonymous | 8-Jun-2009 6:16 pm
Well done Bird & Bird for wheeling out to the press a story about what positively good chaps you all are, when most likely you're just like all the other London law firms - money first, staff second.
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Sophia | 8-Jun-2009 6:20 pm
Congratulations Mary and all the very best in your new role! I thought myself quite an oddity when I qualified, aged 42, in September, great to see my little club expanding. Maybe other firms will take note of your achievement and broaden their thinking a little.
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Anonymous | 9-Jun-2009 5:12 pm
Great news!! I'm 28 and working in house as a paralegal with no sign yet of a training contract from my company. No more paranoia that I'm too old :-)
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