Caitlin Cooney

Associate Solicitor at Gowling WLG

Class of 2017

Caitlin qualified as a solicitor at an international law firm in September 2024. She lives and works in London (and loves everything about it). Her main hobbies are baking and running and she is currently training for the London Marathon – the two go hand-in-hand when trying to carb load! She also enjoys skiing (in Winter), sailing (in Summer) and keeping up her creative pursuits with some painting and sewing.

We caught up with Caitlin to find out more about her experiences since leaving SHS and her determination to pursue a career in law:

What was your most memorable moment as a pupil at Sheffield Girls’? As I was at the school from Reception right through to Sixth Form, it is so hard to pick just one. My top memories were winning sports day as Gurney House Captain, my final Movement Evening as Dance Captain, getting to the end of my Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition alongside my team, the nervous anticipation before a school play or concert, and the final assembly in Sixth Form singing the hymn 'Autumn Days' as I had seen so many girls do in years before me.

Can you share with us a bit about your career journey after leaving Sheffield Girls’? I read Law at the University of Liverpool where I also did pro bono volunteering at the Liverpool Law Society. I graduated a few months into the Covid-19 pandemic and sat my final exams from my childhood bedroom which I had moved back into. During this time, I applied for vacation schemes at many law firms and after completing the Gowling WLG scheme, I was offered a training contract. I moved down to London and sat my Legal Practice Course before starting 2 years of my on-the-job legal training, across 4 different areas of commercial law. I was admitted as a solicitor in September 2024. I practice commercial real estate, specifically in regeneration and development. Part of my training included a client secondment to Transport for London and I continue to work closely with this key client now I am back in private practice.

What influenced you to take the career path you did? Please tell us about what you’re doing now? My career path was heavily influenced by an insight day I did during Sixth Form where we went into the Sheffield office of a law firm and did a 'day-in-the-life' type exercise. Whilst I was also interested in a more creative career (my dream job would have been an interior designer), I really enjoyed my degree and the work experience I did alongside that. I manage to combine my interest in property with legal work as I help deliver large-scale developments.

What have been the biggest challenges in your career? And the most rewarding parts of your job? The biggest challenge in my career so far has been getting my foot in the door to begin with. The law firm application process can be brutal, and doing this during Covid-19 when there was so much uncertainty around was a real test. The most rewarding part at that stage was getting the call to let me know I'd got the job and I still remember where I was and how I felt when my phone rang that day.

Since I've been in the role itself, there are always rewarding moments where I've taken a step back from what I'm working on to realise just how much I've learnt and developed over the past few years. It has been a steep learning curve but, much like at Sheffield Girls', I am surrounded by great mentors and my colleagues have been invaluable in navigating the step up. I also love being able to see the buildings and development sites I work on pop up on the skyline in London and it gives me a great sense of pride when this happens.

Did your education at the High School influence your career? My education undoubtedly influenced my career. Sheffield Girls' gave me the skills of resilience, self-belief and confidence in my abilities and allowed me to envisage myself in what is regarded as quite an aspirational career. My teachers in school always had the attitude that the sky's the limit and if you push yourself, you are capable of more than you know. It was all of these things that allowed me to push for the job I knew I wanted, even when it was going to be a challenge to get there.

What advice would you give your younger self (when you were at school)? In the words of Doris Day, Que sera, sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be). There is plenty that you can worry about in your life, but there is also a lot that is out of your control, so don’t sweat the small stuff. And with the big stuff (whether that is university, or your future career), trust the process and that it will all work out in the end. It might sound like a cliché, but life is more about the journey than the destination. So you may as well try and enjoy it. Things will work themselves out just as they are meant to be.

What advice would you give sixth form pupils at Sheffield Girls’ today? Sixth Form is undeniably a hard time as a young adult, managing your work and future aspirations, the expectations of family and your wider friendships and relationships. However, try and enjoy these moments as you will no doubt look back at them in years to come with great fondness.