Celebrating A New Solicitor: Victoria Murphy’s Journey at Bookers & Bolton

At Bookers & Bolton, we know there is no single “right” way to build a career in law. Some people qualify straight out of university, while others, like our newest solicitor Victoria Murphy, take a route that is a little more winding, and it is all the more inspiring for it.

Victoria’s story spans home care work for the elderly, a first legal secretary role she landed through a good word from a friend, spells across litigation, family, conveyancing, and private client, CILEX membership and fee earner status, five precious years at home raising her children, and a return to work that began with easing back in as a secretary. When both fee earners in her department moved on at once, she stepped up, took on the Solicitor Graduate Apprenticeship, and qualified as a solicitor in May 2026, all while raising a young family.

Victoria’s journey and career progression so far says a great deal about her determination. At Bookers & Bolton, we strive to be the type of firm that spots potential, backs its people, and provides the support and opportunities to grow. From the colleagues who answered her questions on unfamiliar topics to the study leave and encouragement along the way, it is an achievement we are incredibly proud to have been part of.

We sat down with Victoria to talk about her route into law, her work in our private client team, and what it means to reach this milestone. Here is what she had to say.

Victoria’s Journey to Qualifying

Can you talk us through your journey from your law degree in 2011 to qualifying as a solicitor this year?

It was a little while before I got my first legal job after my degree. I was doing home care for the elderly, which I had been doing throughout my university course. My first legal secretary job I actually got because I knew someone from my university course who already worked at the firm, and she put in a good word! They took a chance as I had never done an office job before. At first, I worked for the litigator, but I was moved to private client after the litigator went off permanently sick. I instantly hated litigation, but private client took some getting used to, there seemed to be a lot to learn because it’s not a topic you study at uni.

Developments in my personal life took me down to the seaside, and after a brief spell at a family law firm and a redundancy, I joined a temp agency. That led to a full-time position as a conveyancing secretary. As I had my CILEX membership, the partners asked if I wanted to train up to become a Fellow. I jumped at the chance, but they could only really offer this in private client, and actually I was happy with that. So, I switched departments and worked closely with the Fellow who ran the department. She showed me how to draft Wills and much of what I have learned about administering estates. I was with the firm for around 5 years in total, and I never did actually do my portfolio!

Again, my personal life changed following my dad’s death and also a change of relationship; I moved back to this area, and I was commuting to Littlehampton daily. Eventually, my partner and I decided we wanted to have a family, and I worked my last day with that firm at 36 weeks pregnant, and I did not go back, as I immediately fell pregnant a second time! I had 5 years of very precious time at home with my children, but I was very ready to go back to work and challenge myself again. If I’m honest, all that time away made me feel nervous that I would be out of the loop and out of practice.

A recruiter contacted me about the secretary position at Bookers & Bolton, and I decided that going back in as a secretary could be a good way to ease back in. The people were immediately welcoming and understood that I was easing myself back into work, so when they offered me the position it was an easy yes. My next opportunity came when both fee earners in our department left at the same time, and having had some previous experience, I was offered the chance to step up. Initially, I was hesitant, but I agreed. The Solicitor Graduate Apprenticeship seemed to pop up at the exact time I needed it to, and after a discussion, it was underway!

You spent several years as a legal secretary across family, conveyancing, litigation and private client work. How valuable was that grounding, and what did it teach you that a more direct route might not have?

Honestly, I think there is a lot to be said for starting in a support role and working your way to a legal position. I gained a lot from working alongside experienced people face to face in the office in each of the firms I have worked for. I have seen others trying to learn remotely and it just isn’t the same, or rather that would not have worked for me. I think starting as a secretary you build more of the basic skills which sometimes can be forgotten by people who have just come through years of education but no practical experience, such as client phone and meeting etiquette. You also have a better grounding of the processes and IT systems because you are using them and not directing others to do it on your behalf.

What was it about private client work that made you feel you’d found your calling?

I think the type of people I’ve worked with in private client are my type of people, the type of people who have empathy and want to help and support others at what can be a very vulnerable time. Yes, sometimes the nature of private client can be upsetting, but actually I feel like I cope better dealing with death than I would dealing with divorce or child care matters!

You were already MCILEX, yet you chose to pursue the solicitor qualification on top of that. What drove that decision?

MCILEX is simply a paralegal, which although I was able to undertake fee earning work, there were things I was not entitled to do, such as apply for probate, or deal directly with the court for Court of Protection applications. I discussed this with our senior partner, and I think the consensus was that although Fellows of CILEX do the same job as a solicitor, there is a good percentage of the public who (probably unfairly) see a solicitor as a more professional title. So, if I was going to train up, it made sense to go for the solicitor qualification, particularly where the apprenticeship was available.

Studying and qualifying while raising a family is no small feat. How did you juggle it all, and what kept you going?

I think my family kept me going, and my very supportive team at work. My partner works night shifts so that he can work around me being in the office and he can collect the children from school, so I had to call in favours with family and friends to do bedtime with the kids so I could study. The children are pleased that I don’t have to study anymore!

You completed your solicitor qualification in May 2026. How did it feel to reach that milestone?

I am still pinching myself! We haven’t celebrated as a family yet, and hope to do so when I get around to booking my ceremony at The Law Society.

Working At Bookers & Bolton and In Private Client

How would you describe the private client team at Bookers & Bolton to someone who has never met them?

Just the loveliest bunch of people who genuinely care about what they do.

Much of this work comes at difficult moments in people’s lives. How do you approach supporting clients with care and clarity when they’re going through something stressful or sad?

I do all of my client meetings face to face, as I feel that connection is the most important part of my clients getting to know me and vice versa. In person, I can assess the client’s frame of mind better and respond accordingly, and they can see that I genuinely will do what I can to assist them. I always make sure they know they can call my direct line or email me with any concerns or queries, and I try to be as flexible as possible with meetings, whether this is in the office or in their own home.

How has Bookers & Bolton supported you in reaching qualification and settling into your role as a solicitor?

They supported me fully. They found the apprenticeship and got it all set up for me, they allowed me as much time as they could in work time to complete course admin and study, plus exam study leave. My colleagues were on call to answer questions I had particularly about unfamiliar topics, an example being our accounts clerk taking time out of her busy schedule to go through some queries I had on solicitors’ accounts rules with me.

Bookers & Bolton is a firm with a long, traditional heritage and strong community ties. What do you enjoy about being part of a firm like that?

I think having a local firm which is already trusted means that there are always clients who are loyal and familiar, and they do spread the word. A long-standing client of the firm may come to me because of the firm’s reputation, but hopefully they come back to us because they are impressed by us and the work we do.

Advice For Others Following a Similar Path

For anyone returning to their career after a break to raise a family, what advice would you give?

It’s tough, but it will be worth it in the end.

You’ve experienced both the CILEX and solicitor routes. What would you say to someone weighing up which path into law is right for them?

To fully qualify under CILEX would have involved producing a portfolio evidencing work you have done on the job, whereas the solicitor route is exams. Personally, I think I stressed more about having to produce a portfolio. Although the new SQE exams were pretty hairy, I kind of knew more what to expect with exams. You tend to specialise more with CILEX too, whereas solicitor training is more general.

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice at the start of it all, what would it be?

All in good time, you don’t need to rush.

A Bit More About Victoria

You describe yourself as a lifelong learner. Outside of law, is there anything you’ve taught yourself or would love to learn?

I’d love to learn to dance.

If you had a completely free weekend with no plans and no interruptions, how would you spend it?

I think my brain might explode just imagining!

Who or what has inspired you most on your journey so far?

Definitely my children, and I hope I inspire them too. My 8 year old told her teacher when she found out I had passed my exams, “my mummy passed her exams! She just qualified as… something!” HaHa.