When Tolu Awosika joined Cavendish, part of the Movera brand, in July 2025, she had a clear ambition in mind: to become a qualified solicitor. Starting her career as a property paralegal, she saw the role as a natural and necessary step towards that goal, allowing her to build practical experience across both freehold and leasehold transactions.
Having recently graduated from university, Tolu was already set on pursuing a legal career. Rather than taking a more administrative route, she focused on securing a paralegal position that would bring her closer to the responsibilities of a solicitor. What initially drew her to Cavendish was its culture. Compared to more traditional law firms, the difference was immediate. The flexibility, hybrid working model, and more relaxed environment stood out, creating a workplace where she felt both comfortable and motivated. “It’s not like your typical traditional law firm,” she says. “You don’t feel like you must hide who you are. You can be yourself, and that makes a big difference to how you work and how confident you feel with the colleagues around you.”
Supported by her manager, Tolu works across a high volume of files on a day-to-day basis, balancing multiple tasks at once. Each morning starts with reviewing her case management system, identifying urgent priorities, and mapping out the day ahead. From drafting contract packs and raising enquiries to preparing files for exchange and completion, each day can be entirely different.
“You’re constantly moving between different clients, so staying organised is really important.”
For Tolu, the case management system, Visual Files, has transformed how she works, helping her keep track of outstanding tasks and reducing the risk of things being missed. “It makes everything more efficient,” she says. “You can clearly see what needs to be done and what’s outstanding. Everything is all in one place. In a traditional law firm, if you don’t write something down, you forget to do it. It makes for a messy system.”
Alongside organisation, communication is central to her approach. Internally, she places strong emphasis on asking questions and seeking clarity early, recognising the importance of learning through collaboration. “It’s always better to ask than assume,” she says. “If you’re unsure, speak up. That’s how you avoid mistakes and improve. One day, I’d hope people could look to me and not be afraid to ask questions. Having that open line of communication makes me feel confident in my role.”
Externally, her communication style is shaped by the client. Understanding that every client is different, she adapts her approach to suit their level of experience and confidence with the process. “Some clients need more guidance, especially if they are first-time buyers or older clients navigating an important stage of life,” she explains. “Others just want quick updates. It’s about understanding who they are and communicating in a way that works for them.” For Tolu, the most rewarding part of the role comes at the end of a transaction. Seeing a case through from start to finish, and knowing she has contributed to a smooth experience, brings a strong sense of satisfaction. “When the client is happy, I’m happy,” she says. “Getting that positive feedback at the end makes it all worth it and motivates you to keep improving.”
Looking ahead, her focus remains firmly on progression. With access to a wide range of training resources and support from colleagues, she is continuing to build the knowledge and experience needed for the next stage of her career. For those considering a similar path, her advice is simple but consistent with her own experience: be authentic, stay curious, and make the most of the opportunities available.
“Be yourself. It’s easy to feel like you have to fit into a certain mould in law, but here you don’t. When you’re yourself, you build better relationships, and more opportunities come your way.”
With a clear goal, growing confidence and the right support around her, Tolu is continuing to build the foundations for a future career as a solicitor.