Week one in dispute resolution: collaboration, real matters and training
Rhea reflects on her first week at Marriott Harrison - building relationships with fellow trainees and accessing meaningful learning opportunities within days of joining. She is currently a trainee in the dispute resolution team.
Starting my training contract at Marriott Harrison has been a milestone I have looked forward to for a long time, and the first week certainly lived up to expectations.
The week began with a series of induction sessions, where the IT and HR teams played a particularly central role. The IT sessions were invaluable in equipping us with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the firm’s systems and processes effectively, whilst the HR team were pivotal in highlighting the strong support structures in place to help us integrate smoothly into the firm. The current trainees also kindly took us out on the first day for a ‘Welcome Lunch’, which also helped with this integration as they were able to offer their insights and experiences.
For my first seat, I joined the Dispute Resolution team. Starting this process, I did not have a strong preference for my first department, as I was keen to experience both contentious and transactional work during my training contract. From the outset, the team made me feel incredibly welcome.
By my second day, I was already being briefed on active cases and trusted with some preliminary tasks.
Having meaningful work so quickly, not only gave me a sense of responsibility but also helped me see how the team collaborates on live matters.
A focus on learning and development
One aspect of my first week that particularly stood out was the firm’s emphasis on learning and development. Within just a few days, we attended two seminars - one exploring a specialist area of tax and the other focused on client development. What especially struck me was the range of attendees. These sessions were not limited to trainees; partners and other senior colleagues were also actively engaged. It was clear that continuous professional development is embedded in the firm’s culture at every level, which I found both encouraging and inspiring.
A welcoming environment and collaborative culture
Of course, what made the week truly memorable was the people. The office has an open-plan layout and the implementation of hot-desking, which meant I was able to sit next to different colleagues each day. This created plenty of opportunities to introduce myself, have conversations, and learn more about what others in the firm are working on. For someone just starting out, those informal interactions were invaluable - they gave me a real sense of the firm’s collaborative and approachable culture.
Reflections…
Reflecting on my first week, what stands out most is the balance between being supported and being challenged. I felt welcomed from the very beginning but also trusted to contribute to live matters and encouraged to take advantage of learning opportunities. It has been a dynamic and engaging start to my training contract, and I am looking forward to building on these foundations as I continue my journey at Marriott Harrison.