Flex Trainee Alumni: Lauren Connolly

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February 17 2026

Case Studies

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The journey to legal qualification is often viewed as a rigid, high-pressure path through private practice firms. But for Ghazhal Noory, a member of the very first Flex Trainee cohort, the ‘standard’ route didn't feel like the right fit. By choosing the in-house qualification route with Flex Legal and The Crown Estate, Ghazhal not only accelerated her career but conquered the self-doubt that often plagues aspiring lawyers.

Now a Legal Counsel at Connells Group, Ghazhal shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to qualified solicitor.

Discovering a culturally-aligned path

Ghazhal’s interest in law was piqued during her time at the University of Reading. Early interactions with private practice were valuable in giving her a sense of the profession but Ghazhal recalls feeling “intimated and a sense of imposter syndrome” when attending open days at private practice firms. “I didn’t fully understand how it all worked, and even the terminology felt unfamiliar.”

A work experience placement at Sky’s in-house legal team changed everything. She loved the friendly, relaxed culture and the unique relationship between the legal team and their ‘internal’ clients. “At Sky, I saw that your clients are the people within the organisation. You develop genuine, long-term relationships with them and your day-to-day work is so varied. I knew then that in-house was a better fit for me culturally.”

Groundbreaking support: the Flex Trainee scheme

Ghazhal found the Flex Trainee scheme through STRIVE during her third year of university. Attracted by the diversity focus and the structured path to in-house qualification, she joined as one of the scheme’s pioneers.

The scheme provided a comprehensive support system that bridged the gap between academia and practice:

The Readiness Programme: Intensive workshops covering stakeholder management and contract basics that Ghazhal credits with helping her hit the ground running at The Crown Estate.
Mentorship: Regular catch-ups with Flex mentors and industry professionals, including a mentor from Santander’s data protection team.
Structure: A 4-day work/1-day study split that provided the necessary balance to tackle the SQE exams via Barbri.
The Best of Both Worlds: A three-month secondment at Womble Bond Dickinson, giving her exposure to private practice while maintaining her in-house roots.

A surreal milestone: qualifying at 23

For many, the fear of the training contract bottleneck makes qualification feel like a distant dream. Like many aspiring lawyers, Ghazhal had once felt unsure about how long qualification might take, but receiving her certificate at 23 was a moment of genuine pride.

“Qualification felt very sudden and surreal,” she says. “I couldn’t believe it when the certificate just came through on email. Having heard from different people growing up on how hard and difficult it is to access the profession and the resulting self-doubt I had, thinking ‘I’ve actually done it’ was a massive proud moment.”

Life after Flex: Legal Counsel at Connells Group

Today, Ghazhal works as Legal Counsel at Connells Group, a leading UK property services and estate agency group, trading under over 80 well-known and trusted brands with a network of over 1,200 branches nationwide. In this fast-paced role, her work spans B2B and B2C agreements, major IT and procurement projects, and day‑to‑day commercial matters. She has developed rapidly in the role, taking responsibility to lead and shape commercially-led advice and dealing with senior stakeholders across the Connells Group.

"The variety is great," Ghazhal notes. "Every brand and business within the group has its own needs. Because of my training at The Crown Estate and the support from Flex, I walked into this NQ role feeling prepared and confident, thinking 'I can do this.'"

Ghazal’s advice to the next generation:

Ghazhal’s main advice for current trainees is simple: Reflect.

“Take time to regularly reflect on where you are now compared to six months ago. Your progress becomes much clearer when you look at it over longer periods. Your training might look different from your peers’, but whether you're in‑house or in private practice, you're still developing the core skills you need to succeed. My own realisation came during my secondment, when I noticed how naturally I could pick things up. You will always have the ability to learn. Ask the right questions, stay curious, and keep a positive attitude. Every experience is valuable.”

“Before Flex Trainee existed, an in-house training contract felt like an informal private arrangement you had to hope for. The scheme focuses on supporting people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who might not otherwise have the networks, guidance, mentors or exposure needed to navigate the route into the profession. It’s run by people who genuinely care about helping trainees navigate the profession with the confidence to succeed.”

Ghazhal Noory, Flex Trainee Alumni

Additional Resources:

Hire now - want to take on some top quality interim legal professionals like Ghazhal? Check out our ‘hire’ page today to find the paralegals and lawyers you need to ease your team’s workload.
How we've supported Emerald Publishing with interim lawyers - perhaps Ghazhal’s experiences have got you wondering what interim legal resourcing could do for your team? Take a look at this case study, where we break down how we supported Emerald Publishing with interim lawyers.
Apply to be a Flex Lawyer - interested in what the world of interim lawyer work could look like for you? Well look no further! Click here to learn more and perhaps even apply.