Graduate Profiles

Hugh Mawby
Eleanor Hourigan
Giles Seal
Jane Carmichael
Rosie Sarrington
Matthew Heydon

Home > Graduate Recruitment > Life as a GLS Trainee > Hugh Mawby

Hugh Mawby

TSol (Treasury Solicitors)

Hugh was attracted to the GLS by the mix of politics and law.

“Having worked for an MP for a year I knew I liked the politics and buzz of Westminster but also knew that I did not want to be an MP. I thought a combination of the two would be the ideal job.

The high-profile issues and the fact that some of your work is on the front pages of the newspapers makes for plenty of interest. The GLS also offered the chance to work in diverse areas of law and deal with a wide variety of issues and practice areas, contrasting sharply with much private practice work.

My first seat was handling Personal Injury work for the MOD – everything from minor slip and trip claims involving children falling off swings on MOD property, to multi-million pound claims arising out of group litigation such as the “Gulf War syndrome” cases. I handled several of my own cases: taking witness statements, drafting instructions to Counsel, attending court hearings and so on.

My second seat was in General Public Law. This team handles a wide variety of public law issues including Judicial Review applications, mental health review tribunals, and statutory appeals to the High Court from Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal decisions. The most interesting things so far in my work have been an eye-opening visit to Rampton High Security Hospital and a tour round a Royal Navy battleship!

I’d say the advantages of working here are the variety, regular hours and a helpful, co-operative, training-oriented culture. A good work-life balance is encouraged and, in my opinion, it’s more worthwhile than working for the profits of a partner.

The fact some of your work is on the front page makes for an interesting job.

It’s also fascinating to hear about issues that have implications for Number 10. The biggest surprise has been how crucial Law is to much of what the Government does.”