What’s it like to work at Archor?
An interview with Molly Lockerbie, Associate
Molly is an Associate solicitor, who joined Archor as a paralegal before becoming a trainee and qualifying in 2024. Having grown with Archor, Molly can offer a well-rounded view of the firm, its strengths, and what it’s like to be part of the team.
Distinction in the Market
How do you think Archor stands out in the local legal landscape?
I think Archor balances the priorities of local clients with those based in other locations, and still cares about the jobs even if they aren’t in the million-pound category. It’s important for those around us to feel like we are still understanding that their disputes and developments are as important to them.
At a junior level, there is also a lot of support. Archor puts trainees through the SQE and gives a paid study day each week during course times, which I found really useful in ensuring that I could manage the SQE workload (which was high at times!) and continue to assist with my fee earning work.
It also helped me to still enjoy some of my weekend which is so important to everyone here! Since I’ve qualified I’ve enjoyed helping other juniors, and there is always someone around to chat through any new or unusual questions that come up.
What distinguishes Archor nationally or in comparison to larger London-based firms?
I think we do well at keeping close ties in the local area whilst keeping up with the work carried out in the city. We still make an effort to attend the local events and do really well at balancing both types of work.
The firm is also good for always making time for the staff and keeping up with training which in turn helps us to provide better service to clients. As mentioned above Archor provides genuine and fast service no matter how big the scale of the project.
Looking Ahead
What advice would you give to someone applying to Archor or considering a career here?
If you’re hard working, you’ll fit right in. Archor thrives in having people who are always willing to go further and wanting to learn/understand more. You also should be prepared to be social!
What are you most excited about in the future of Archor or your career here?
I’m excited to see Archor progress, and continue to bring in the exciting new projects.
We have already started to branch out in the types of development we are assisting with and it will be interesting to see what else is in store. I’m also excited to see the new faces come along to join the team!
How do you see Archor continuing to grow or evolve in the next few years?
It would be great to grow the Cambridge office as there is so much potential in the area, and we pride ourselves on keeping a close-knit relationship between both offices.
Personal and Professional Journey
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
From a young age I was always encouraged by my parents to work hard and study for all of my exams. They always pushed me and at the time I found it tiring, but I’m definitely grateful for it now! I knew from then I would have an academic job over one that was practical or unstructured. I decided to study law as an A Level and it seemed everything clicked. It suited my skillset well in reading, processing and applying information and it helped to find it enjoyable when I was good at it.
How did your academic or early professional experiences lead you to become a solicitor?
I practiced numerous extra-curricular activities at university, including mooting, and it became clear I never really like the advocacy ones! I realised fairly quickly that the advocacy role wasn’t for me and that I wanted to be more involved in the work behind the scenes, so drafting letters, giving advice, negotiating contracts etc sounded more appealing to me.
What attracted you to join Archor?
Archor’s first office is based in Colchester, which is where I grew up. I hadn’t ever considered going into construction as it’s not something you learn about whilst at university, but after doing some research and having interviews with the team it became clear it really is one of the most interesting areas! When people say you fall into it, they really do mean it, but I’m super grateful I did. Not only was I interested in the area, but the dynamic of the interview just made me feel at ease.
Life at Archor
What makes Archor different from other law firms you’ve encountered?
Having only been in the industry for a short period of time, it’s clear we as juniors are much more involved than those at other firms I have interacted with, which is great for our own learning experience. The responsibility we have is great and although it can be a bit daunting, there is always someone around to help where needed.
I also think that the people at Archor really care about their clients and aim to make each client feel like a priority – and it’s the same for the employees. We really feel like a group of friends that are actually interested in each other’s lives which makes it a great place to work. It’s always nice to have a relationship with the client where you can have the same genuine conversations.
How would you describe the culture at Archor in three words?
Genuine, hardworking, and balanced. The team is so genuinely friendly, and really wants the best for its employees and its clients. It’s important to be hardworking at Archor. There is so much to learn and you definitely won’t learn it all in the first few years. We all strive to improve all the time. Balance is really important as without it, work becomes tiresome, and you don’t put out the best version of yourself – you can catch us on a work social every month or so to let our hair down and catch up!
What types of clients or matters do you typically work on at Archor, and how do you think that compares with other firms?
I work on a mixture of contentious and non-contentious matters, for a variety of clients. Both matters include clients varying from individuals, small regional contractors / developer’s and those based in the city. It’s great to feel like we are competing with the larger and more traditional firms.
What has your progression within the firm looked like so far?
I started as a paralegal in 2022, so quite soon after the firm was founded, before starting my SQE and training contract in June 2023. After 18 months of hard work, I qualified as a solicitor in December 2024. It’s been great to begin my career under the Archor umbrella and I look forward to seeing how much further we can go.
Is there a moment in your career at Archor that particularly stands out – whether it’s a big case, a client success, or personal achievement?
Aside from finishing the SQE and qualifying as a solicitor, it’s been great to be involved in a number of high-quality cases, including some reported cases.
Want to be part of the team?
