Alexandra Hunter is a trainee solicitor at Brodies LLP who spent part of her final seat on secondment to the BBC. In this blog, she explains the differences between working in-house and in private practice, as well as her key takeaways from both experiences.
View part 1 of this series, written by a trainee solicitor at the BBC who spent her final seat on secondment to Brodies LLP.
Life as a Trainee Solicitor at Brodies
I’m currently a second-year trainee solicitor at Brodies LLP, looking forward to qualifying into the Banking & Finance team this August. I first joined the firm in 2018 as a part-time assistant in the business development & marketing team, while completing my LLB and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. After five years at Brodies, I was thrilled to begin my traineeship in August 2023.
Unlike the traditional structure of traineeships seen at many law firms, Brodies offers a slightly different format — three eight-month seat rotations rather than four six-month placements.
My first seat was in Real Estate - commercial property, where I had the opportunity to work across three distinct teams within the wider practice area. Each team had a different sub-sector focus in the market, ranging from advising high street brands on tenant-side matters to supporting leading hotel, leisure, and retail occupiers, including major international and domestic retailers. I was also involved in high-value investment transactions and significant development projects.
My second seat was in Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency, where I worked on a wide range of domestic and international banking and finance transactions. This included real estate finance, securitisations, and fund finance deals acting for both borrowers and lenders. I also contributed to matters relating to corporate and structured finance.
My third seat has included a four-month secondment to the BBC, followed by a return to Brodies to complete the final four months of my traineeship in both the corporate and funds teams. This has involved working on corporate reorganisations, equity raises, M&A transactions, private equity matters, and general corporate advisory work.
What I enjoy most at Brodies
I’m proud to be part of Brodies and especially grateful for the firm’s culture and the people I work alongside. It’s inspiring to collaborate with such talented, top-tier specialists and to be part of a large, dynamic trainee cohort. The variety and sophistication of the firm’s client portfolio make it exciting to contribute to high-value, landmark deals across multiple sectors. I truly value being in an environment that’s collaborative and supportive, while also encouraging independence and offering diverse opportunities for both professional and personal growth.
Life as a Trainee Solicitor at the BBC
During my secondment at the BBC, I worked within the Commercial, Rights & Business Affairs team, supporting Production, Events & Talent. As a trainee solicitor, I assisted with reviewing and negotiating contributor contracts, advising on copyright, footage usage, and licensing arrangements, and analysing rights agreements with agencies and publishers. I contributed to fee negotiations, contract execution, and IR35 compliance, while collaborating closely with teams across the organisation.
I also had the opportunity to represent the BBC at sporting events and observe live productions, gaining valuable insight and strengthening relationships with production teams.
What I enjoyed most at the BBC
Being seconded to the BBC was both exciting and rewarding. I’m thankful for the opportunity to spend time within such a prestigious and iconic organisation, and to work alongside a warm, supportive, and inclusive team. The secondment was filled with memorable moments—from advising on key commercial contracts and building meaningful professional relationships, to visiting BBC offices across the UK and attending live radio and television productions.
In-house Counsel -v- Private Practice
Working in-house at the BBC as a trainee solicitor offered a distinctly different experience from life in private practice.
One of the most immediate contrasts is the client-facing nature of private practice, where you advise a wide range of clients across multiple sectors, typically delivering highly specialised advice with a focus on depth over breadth. At the BBC, I was embedded within the organisation itself, collaborating directly with editorial, production, and compliance teams. The role demanded fast-paced, commercially focused legal advice on everything from intellectual property and broadcasting compliance to talent contracts. Legal decisions were shaped not only by statutory considerations but also by the BBC’s public service mission and commitment to deliver value to licence fee payers.
Additionally, time recording and billable hours aren’t part of the in-house environment. In contrast, these practices — alongside a strong focus on business development — are central to how private practice operates.
Experiencing both environments has given me a broader perspective on the legal profession, and helped sharpen my adaptability as I move to qualifying.
What insights will I take back to Brodies?
My secondment to the BBC was an incredibly rewarding experience and played a key role in my growth from both a commercial and business development perspective. I had the opportunity to work on a range of matters that broadened my expertise and significantly enhanced my technical skills — particularly in drafting and analysing agreements — while also expanding my professional network.
It also reinforced the importance of effective communication, especially when navigating amendments to agreements while preserving key relationships.
The secondment gave me valuable insight into how public organisations balance commercial focus with delivering value for money, highlighting that financial efficiency and commercial awareness are essential in both the public and private sectors— particularly in maximising license fee contributions.
I’d highly recommend a secondment to anyone considering one, and I'm excited to apply the knowledge and skills I developed at the BBC as I step into the next chapter of my journey, qualifying as a solicitor at Brodies.
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