A traineeship is a time for learning, taking on new challenges and finding your place in the legal profession. As our trainees move on to their next steps, we invited them to look back on their time at Kalliolaw and share what they have learned and enjoyed along the way. Below, Siiri and Benjamin describe their journeys with us and reflect on the experiences that have shaped their time at Kalliolaw.

Siiri

Working at Kalliolaw has been a great experience filled with learning, new challenges, and plenty of opportunities to grow.

I started at Kalliolaw as a Junior Trainee in June 2025. In May 2026, I moved into the role of Associate Trainee, which felt like a natural next step. By then, I had already become familiar with the people, culture, and ways of working at the office, which made the transition smooth. At the same time, the new role gave me the opportunity to take on more responsibility and work on more demanding legal matters.

As an Associate Trainee, I have had the chance to challenge myself in many ways. I have worked on a wide range of legal matters and gained experience from several different areas of law. Some tasks were familiar, while others required me to step outside my comfort zone and learn along the way. In many cases, these were also the tasks I learned the most from.

One of the things I have appreciated most during my time at Kalliolaw is the opportunity to be genuinely involved in legal work from the beginning. Trainees are trusted with meaningful tasks and given the chance to take on more responsibility as their skills develop. I have particularly enjoyed being able to work on challenging legal matters and see how the knowledge gained through my studies translates into practical legal work. The variety of assignments has also made it possible to gain experience across different areas of law and to learn from lawyers with different backgrounds and areas of expertise. It has also helped me understand what kind of work I enjoy and what areas I would like to learn more about in the future.

Of course, the people have been a big part of the experience. I am very grateful to the amazing team at Kalliolaw for all the support, advice, and knowledge you have shared with me. I have also appreciated how easy it has been to ask questions and discuss things, whether related to a particular legal matter or simply something that came up during the day.

Looking back, I am especially grateful for how much this journey has taught me — both professionally and personally. Starting as a Junior Trainee and progressing to an Associate Trainee has given me the chance to gradually take on more responsibility, step outside my comfort zone, and build confidence in my own skills.
There is still plenty to learn, but I feel that I have a strong foundation to build on. I am excited to continue forward and see what new challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

I am very grateful to the whole Kalliolaw team for making my time here such a positive and rewarding experience. Thank you for all the support, trust, and opportunities to learn along the way.

Benjamin

My time at Kalliolaw has been an exciting, educational, and rewarding journey. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to gain a much better understanding of what working in a law firm is really like, while also developing as a future professional and getting to know a great group of colleagues.

One of the things I have appreciated most during my time here has been the variety of work. I have had the opportunity to work on different types of legal matters and translation tasks across several areas of law, which has given me a broad perspective on the work carried out at a business law firm and has been particularly valuable this early in my career. It has also been lovely to see how the knowledge I have gained through my studies can be applied to practical legal matters. At Kalliolaw, trainees are given the opportunity to get involved in meaningful work right from the start, and I have found that being proactive can open the door to many different learning opportunities. All this has enabled me to approach new tasks with an open mind while taking responsibility for my own work.

The working environment has played a big role in making my time here so memorable. The atmosphere is relaxed, supportive, and non-hierarchical, making it easy to approach colleagues with questions or ask for help when something is unclear. I have especially appreciated being able to work alongside true professionals with different backgrounds and levels of experience. This has given me the opportunity to learn from their knowledge and experience to the best of my ability, hopefully helping me someday become as knowledgeable and capable a lawyer as they are. The shared lunches, coffee breaks, and moments outside of work, especially a lovely trip to Málaga, have made it easy to form connections that reach a deeper level than professional coexistence – connections that I am sure to cherish even after my time here.

Looking back, one of the biggest lessons I have taken from my traineeship is that you do not need to know everything from the start. Being willing to learn, showing initiative, and having the courage to ask questions are much more important. Every new task is an opportunity to learn something, and what really matters is being willing to show up and give your best self, even when the task at hand may seem mundane.

If I had to give future trainees one piece of advice, it would be to make the most of the opportunities you are given. Be curious, get involved, and do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Show the people around you that you are someone who can be depended upon – willing to learn, ready to help, and prepared to take responsibility. If you do that, opportunities will come your way. At the same time, remember to enjoy the experience and get to know the people around you. The colleagues and the atmosphere are a big part of what makes the traineeship worthwhile.

My year at Kalliolaw has given me valuable practical experience, a better understanding of legal work, and, most importantly, plenty of great memories. I am deeply grateful for my time here and for the people who have made the experience such a positive one.