How beer can lead to being in the chair ;INTERVIEW: Anne Mizzi talks to the Trainee Solicitors Group chairwoman ;The Trainee Solicitors Group helpline is aimed at making its members realise that they are not alone.

It worked so successfully with Theeba Ragunathan that she is now chairwoman of the entire group.

;None of Ms Ragunathans Sri Lankan family are lawyers, so the helpline helped fill the guidance void during her early years in the profession, and she started getting more involved in the policy side.

She says: Its a forum to mix with other people and air concerns over a pint of beer.

I started attending the meetings and got a feel for the issues.

;Last month, Miss Ragunathan qualified at the Caribbeans largest firm Myers Fletcher & Gordon (TSG membership extends to the first year of qualification).

She worked in its London office, cutting her teeth on glamorous cases like injured boxer Michael Watsons claim against the British Boxing Board of Control.

Its the kind of case every law student dreams about.

It was at the High Court.

It applied basic contract and tort principles and basic advocacy skills you learn at law school, she says, adding: As well as being glitzy, of course.

;Before that she worked at City firm Linklaters as a paralegal for six months and is now between jobs, although the TSG is doing its best to fill the gap.

;The TSG is campaigning for better pay for some trainees and more funding for the TSG, and against stress, debt and litigation-happy principals.

;And of course there is the ongoing issue of the City legal practice course, plans for which have been launched by eight top City law firms in collaboration with three LPC providers.

Miss Ragunathan says: We are just going to keep on going round and round on that one.

;Fears that the City LPC will promote elitism may be uncovered by an upcoming in-depth Law Society study of the recruitment practices of 50 law firms, which has overtaken the TSGs own plans to conduct a similar survey.

We are pleased that the Law Society is conducting this research which advocates good practice within training establishments, Ms Ragunathan says.

;Although there seems to be a hold up with the surveys commissioning, the group is doing better with Law Society liaison and is due to appoint representatives to each of the Societys committees.

Its next step will be to upgrade its council seat from its current observer status.

;Miss Ragunathan is looking forward to Law Society reform and closer co-operation between the Societys different groups.

And if all goes well, the council will soon find out being a trainee is not all about drinking beer and socialising.