As we begin National Apprenticeship Week, the Department of Education announced ‘Skills for Life’ as the theme for 2024. Beyond the expectations for our highly skilled lawyers, this extends to our invaluable support team – be it the meticulous secretary facilitating legal documentation, the astute accounts assistant ensuring financial order, or the adept ICT team maintaining seamless system operations.
In the essence of cultivating ‘Skills for Life,’ our spotlight falls on Alex Robinson-Wood, an ICT apprentice at Swinburne Maddison. Joining the team in July 2023, Alex has not only hit the ground running but is also carving a path toward a promising future. A student at New College Durham, Alex effortlessly blends his weekly college day with hands-on experience in our ICT department.
Today, we have the privilege of catching up with Alex, delving into his apprenticeship, exploring the projects he has worked on, and gaining insight into his perspective on the ever-evolving industry.
Morning Alex! Let’s start with what sparked your interest in pursuing a career in ICT?
I have always been interested in ICT, since I built my first (very basic) website when I was 8 years old and then my first PC when I was 10. One of my favourite stories was being in year 4 and learning how to program a Raspberry Pi, which is still in use today to host and monitor home security.
You have been at SM for six months. What has been your favourite ICT project or task so far?
Since I arrived at Swinburne Maddison back in July, I have completed quite a few projects, some of which are more visible than others – for example, the ticketing system, which has been widely accepted across the firm. However, my favourite is my latest one, which is a piece of software called Wazuh, which allows us to manage security events on each system. The amount of information it collects is incredible and has already proven its worth!
The theme for this year’s NAW is ‘Skills for Life’. Are there specific ICT skills you’re particularly passionate about developing?
Yes! ICT is a field that constantly requires development, so it’s essential to have a passion for self-development in the industry. In the next few years, learning how to work with AI tools, such as ChatGPT, as well as increasing my knowledge on cloud platforms, such as Microsoft Azure, and digging deeper into cybersecurity. I’ll probably need to dust off my scripting/coding skills too.
Do you have a memorable learning experience during your journey into the ICT field?
The most memorable experience I’ve had in ICT was building my first PC, it was definitely a learning curve, and having that responsibility, knowing that there are so many critical points where you can mess it up amounts to a surprising amount of pressure, but I found it extremely interesting to a point where I pursued a career in ICT.
What’s one thing about ICT that surprised you or that you didn’t expect when you started?
One of the things that surprised me most was how willing people were to learn. In my previous role, the majority of the staff did not like the concept of technology whatsoever, so coming into a firm where technology is embraced was a breath of fresh air.
Why did you apply to Swinburne Maddison?
I knew Swinburne Maddison from time in work experience, where I worked directly on their website. I kept up with the firm and connected with them on LinkedIn where I saw the job posted and decided to apply once I finished college!
What’s your favourite thing about working at the firm?
The people. It’s a big part of any supporting role – communicating and getting along with everyone. Everyone is so professional, yet they’re also very easy to talk to and get along with. Everybody is passionate about the work they do and, on top of that, is passionate about the firm and driving it to further success.
Where do you envision your ICT career taking you in the future?
Hopefully, I’ll continue to grow in my role with Swinburne Maddison for at least a few more years – after that, I’m not 100% sure but I’ll probably start my own business offering web/ICT services to other businesses!
Are there specific areas within ICT that you hope to specialise in?
Yes! I want to be at the cutting edge of cybersecurity and/or artificial intelligence.
What challenges do you see facing ICT in the coming years?
One of the largest challenges I see is the threat of AI itself – no doubt that it will come for tech support/technician roles soon as it grows in complexity and knowledge. This is why it’s so vital that we use it to our advantage and not just to our detriment.
How might this affect the Legal sector?
AI’s impact on the legal sector cannot be understated, hence why we have appointed a firm AI champion to keep on top of this tech. Tools such as Harvey have received unparalleled demand from firms around the world. Allen & Overy, Harvey’s launch partner, has so far reported positive results and increased productivity. AI is also beginning to make an appearance in several services that we use as a firm, such as LexisNexis.
What message or insight would you like to share with your fellow apprentices or those interested in ICT apprenticeships?
My only message to fellow apprentices or those interested in ICT apprenticeships is to take each day as it comes! Network with others, talk and learn new ideas and be open to it all. When it’s ready, an opportunity will present itself and it’s up to you to follow up on it.
Aside from tech, do you have any other hobbies or interests?
Yes! Outside of work, I love travelling and exploring different places. This year I’m heading to New York, Amsterdam and Berlin.
I’m also massively into aviation and enjoy spending time up in the sky with my instructor, for now… In the next few years, I hope to have achieved my Private Pilot’s License. I also play the guitar and in a past life was a musician with my own Spotify page!
Quick Fire Round!
Your favourite ICT-related joke or Pun?
Two 5G towers got married… The ceremony was okay but the reception was amazing!
Favourite TV show?
Have I Got News For You! This show helped me through endless hours of political theory study. Either that or the standard ‘I work in a law firm’ answer of Suits.
How do you unwind after work/on a weekend?
I often go out on weekends with friends, and when I’m not out I’m likely spending time with my family up at the coast.
Best piece of Tech you own and what do you aspire to own?
My favourite piece of tech is probably my new laptop which I bought last year! One day I’ll hopefully own one of the new Apple Vision Pro headsets and I might finally see the point of augmented reality.
Favourite piece of software/Programme?
Good question! My favourite software depends on what system I’m using! If I’m on my Mac, probably Photoshop or Logic Pro – I find it interesting to just play around with different sounds sometimes. But if I’m on Windows, probably a game of some format – I particularly like X-Plane and remember first getting it around 10 years ago and barely being able to play it as my PC struggled endlessly with the demands of the game.
If you are interested in starting your career with Swinburne Maddison LLP, we currently have a Business Admin Apprenticeship vacancy.
Please click here to visit the New College Durham website and apply online today!
