Michael Cochrane

Trainee Solicitor

When I look back now, my five years at uni really did race by at a rate of knots. During my first year, I moved from my home in Kew to study Commerce/Law at Deakin University in Geelong. Whilst I probably didn’t think so at the time, it is fair to say that I was somewhat clueless about law in the beginning. Early on in my studies, I was more concerned with the commerce side of things anyway, particularly economics and policy. Perhaps it was the maturity I gained from living out of home for a year or simply escaping the hectic partying schedule of living on campus, but when I eventually did transfer home to Melbourne to begin my second year, my sights rapidly turned to all aspects of the law.

During my final year of studies, I was lucky enough to accomplish my dream of living overseas – I studied Law at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. I can honestly say that the time I spent there (as well as roaming all over Europe on weekends) was the best 7 months of my life to date. In fact, it was over there that I was also informed (in the very early hours of the morning) that I had been offered a position to begin as a Trainee Solicitor at Wisewould Mahony in 2010. After all of the hard work over the years, I am not embarrassed to say that I was more than just a little bit excited about it all.

After just a few weeks in, that excitement has continued everyday I have come into work, from the wonderfully warm and supportive staff around me to the interesting and challenging tasks I have been given in the Commercial and Property department – I simply couldn’t imagine undertaking my Traineeship anywhere else this year! As Trainee Solicitors here, we are already highly involved in the process of assisting clients in reaching practical solutions to their legal issues, not to mention appearing in court in our first week.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of the Wisewould Mahony clan and look forward to seeing what the year has in store.