Contentious construction work involves the resolution of disputes by way of litigation, mediation, adjudication or arbitration. Non-contentious work involves drafting and negotiating contracts and advising on projects, insurance, health and safety, environmental matters and insolvency. Clients range from industry associations, insurers, contractors, architects, engineers, public authorities and governmental bodies to major companies and partnerships.

Heidi Tibbenham is a solicitor in the construction department at leading national firm Shoosmiths. While she was at school, Heidi did a work placement at Mills & Reeve which confirmed her early interest in the law.

Heidi studied the notably varied law degree at the University of Sussex, which allows students to explore other disciplines in their final year. After university Heidi took a year out to save up some money for law school. Luckily, she'd been offered a job as a paralegal in the personal injury department of a firm in Brighton. After that she went on to do her LPC at The College of Law in Birmingham. "It was much more useful and practical than the degree," she says. "I left feeling much more knowledgeable about the law. If a friend asked me for advice, I felt like I could actually help. The LPC also gives you a better idea of what different practice areas are like."

Using the careers service at law school, Heidi started applying for training contracts. "I was looking for medium-sized firms. I didn't want to work for a large law firm where they have hundreds of trainees who do not get a lot of responsibility. I wanted more hands-on training." Although she wasn't sure what kind of law she'd like to practise, she found herself leaning towards property-based work. "I read about construction and found it interesting. The opportunity to do both contentious and non-contentious work was particularly appealing. You don't get a lot of exposure to construction during your degree. It's not an option on your LPC as it is a very niche area."

During her training contract - at Birmingham firm Shakespeare Putsman - Heidi did a seat in commercial property, "an area I thought I'd really like," she recalls, "but I ended up doing a lot of leases". She continues: "I wanted to do development work, which I considered more interesting as you could see the project physically evolve. At the time, the firm had just brought someone in to set up a construction department. I expressed an interest and the firm allowed me to work with this department." Upon qualification, she moved directly to the construction department at Shoosmiths.

"It was quite daunting," she says of the move. "I didn't have a lot of construction experience and on your first day you worry that they'll expect you to know everything. But they were very supportive: I always felt that I could ask questions and they'd sit down and explain everything to me. A firm expects you to need training".

Two years on and Heidi now works on around eight developments at any one time. "I'm very fortunate because I get to deal with many multimillion-pound developments. Over the last two years I have developed a close relationship with our second largest client and I now receive direct instructions from this client. I enjoy working closely with them and learning more about their business."

One of the things Heidi enjoys most is dealing with the different people involved in building a new development. "I have to negotiate with people from various disciplines, including contractors, architects, engineers and project managers," she enthuses. "And on the other side, there are the banks and the end users of the developments. You have to be very organised because it can become quite complicated when so many people are involved in one project. You're acting in the best interests of your client, but you have to keep everyone else happy too."

She also visits her developments - important not just as an excuse to step away from your desk, she says, but because it's essential to see how a building is constructed. "If you're working in construction I think it's important to go out on site visits so you can see the different stages of development. That was a gap in my knowledge when I started. It's important to know, for example, what cladding is! You do pick up a lot; it helps to have a basic understanding of how a building is constructed and who gets involved at what stage, which helps when you're chasing subcontractors."

Heidi's currently advising on the purchase of a shopping centre, which is partway through construction. Valued at £70 million, it's the biggest purchase she has advised on.  "The work can be quite demanding," she admits. "Clients set deadlines when I've got other deadlines to meet. It's about responding to everyone at the right time, not just responding to whoever shouts the loudest. If you've got a big project that comes in you have to try not to let it overshadow the other work you are doing." That's Heidi's biggest challenge: prioritisation.

But she's managed it in the past: rather than applying for training contracts, she realised that getting more work experience and a clearer idea of what she wanted to do was a higher priority. "You have a slight panic at the end of your second year when you see the big adverts for the major London firms that push you to apply. But I'd say, 'Don't worry'. There are many types of firm out there that vary in size, culture and clients, and it is important to find the firm that is right for you. Don't do blanket applications. Research the firm and have a serious think about the type of firm you want to work for and who you want to work with."

In the meantime, to prepare for a job in construction you can get started by reading your local press. "People are always concerned about the commercial awareness question, but with construction it's easy to narrow down what they're referring to. Construction is always in the press: the disputes arising from Wembley and the construction work for the Olympics, for example. You'd be surprised how many reports you can read in the press about construction. I think that would be really impressive in an interview."