Charlie-Anne Smith, talks about a typical day as a Trainee Solicitor at Lamb Brooks; discussing the experiences and opportunities which she may be exposed to.
I am currently in my fourth seat, and you will find me in the Employment and Company Commercial Departments. I am undertaking a split seat which keeps me very busy and exposes me to a wide variety of opportunities and Clients. My previous seats were Litigation and Residential Property, so this has been my first commercially focused seat, which has been an excellent learning experience.
What a Typical Day Might Look Like for Charlie-Anne
Arriving at the Office
9:00am – Typically, the first thing I do when I arrive at the office is check my emails to see whether anything urgent has come in overnight. If something needs to be dealt with promptly, I bring this to the attention of my Head of Department so we can prioritise next steps.
Next, and crucially, I go and get a coffee, as this will assist in working through the tasks I have set for the day!
Morning
9:30am – Today, I am busy with Employment work. I am attending a few meetings this afternoon with Nour Belal, Head of the Employment Department. I review my to-do list from the preceding day and consider the tasks for today. I find this useful; it assists in scheduling my workload around meetings. However, sometimes urgent tasks will crop up, so my schedule needs to be somewhat flexible.
10:00am - This morning, my first task is to begin writing our Employment Law Bulletin; when completed this will set out any important legal updates which employees and employers should be aware of. I am really excited to have been given the opportunity to write the Bulletin, as it will aid my understanding of any current legal updates.
12:00pm – The Bulletin is progressing, but I need turn my head to preparation for a Settlement Agreement meeting this afternoon. To prepare, I will review the Settlement Agreement, Contract and additional relevant documents prior to the meeting and write suggested amendments on my copy of the Settlement Agreement.
Lunch
1:00pm - During Lunch, I either pop home to visit my parents, or I will venture into the town centre; I will either go for a bite to eat with colleagues for a catch up or take a stroll by myself to stretch my legs and get some fresh air.
Afternoon
2:00pm – I attend the Settlement Agreement with Nour. As Nour goes through the Settlement Agreement with the Client, I make further notes on my copy. I also take notes of the meeting to keep an accurate attendance note.
3:00pm – After the meeting, I will type up my attendance notes so that a clear record is on the file. I have a chat with Nour to discuss the amendments I made before the meeting to understand where I was on the right track, and where the amendments can be more tailored.
3:30pm – I attend another meeting with Nour and a Client. This meeting is to provide the Client with advice in respect of their situation at work and advise on next steps. During the meeting I take another detailed attendance note which will assist me with drafting the Grievance following the meeting.
End of the working day
5:00pm – As the end of the day approaches, I review the work undertaken that day and ensure my time recording is up to date. It is very important that my time recording accurately reflects the time spent on a matter, as this ensures that Clients are charged according to the work which has been carried out.
I also spend time updating my Training Record, as this needs to be completed weekly throughout my Training Contract as required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
5:30pm – I tend to leave the Office around 5:30pm. I like to spend my evenings by going to the gym or on a run; then I will cook a nice dinner and relax by watching some of my favourite TV.
Three top tips for Trainees:
- Just Ask: If you are unsure about a task, you have been asked to do, just ask! It is better to understand what you are supposed to be doing, than to worry you are doing it incorrectly. Plus, then you will know how to do it in the future!
- Be proactive: Seek out new learning opportunities. If there is a case you feel you would benefit from being involved in, then ask to attend a meeting or to carry out the research.
- Enjoy the experience: You are only a Trainee once; the two years really does fly by. Get as involved as possible and make the most of the learning experience.
What is it like to be a Trainee Solicitor?
I love being a Trainee Solicitor; it’s such a great learning experience and I have been afforded many great opportunities at Lamb Brooks. It can feel like a whirlwind at times as you have to learn so much in a 6-month seat, but it is very rewarding.
Have you known from a young age that you wanted to become a solicitor?
I knew I wanted to be a Solicitor when I began studying law as an A-Level subject, so I was around 17. I found it so interesting, and knew I wanted to pursue it as a career.
Before your Training Contract did you have an idea of which area of law you would like to qualify into?
I have always known I wanted to qualify into an area of Law which is contentious; I like resolving disputes for Clients and I find the work very varied and interesting.
How much interaction do you have with clients?
I have a lot of interaction with Clients. I often attend Client meetings with my supervising Solicitors. I also email and call Clients at least a few times a day!
What kind of legal matters are you working on at the moment?
I am working on a variety of matters; we have had a few discrimination matters going through the Tribunal process and also some Settlement Agreement matters.
What is the most challenging aspect about being a trainee solicitor?
The most challenging aspect about being a Trainee Solicitor is probably when you change seat. You just become knowledgeable in your current seat, and then you move to the next!
What have you enjoyed the most about your experience so far?
I have enjoyed the variety of work I have been exposed to and the skills that it has taught me. Looking back on myself as a Day 1 Trainee Solicitor reminds me of how far I have come and how much I have learnt!
What 3 skills do you think are needed to shine as a trainee solicitor?
- Organisation;
- Communication skills;
- Adaptability
What advice would you give to someone applying for Training Contracts?
Be yourself and show your passion for the Firm you are applying to and your interest in Law.
How will you celebrate when you qualify?
I’m planning to go to Japan in September, so this will be a great way to celebrate qualification! I would also love to take my parents out for a meal to thank them for all of their support during my qualification journey.
What’s next? Do you have any future career plans or goals once you have qualified?
I am hoping to qualify into a contentious area of Law, which will hopefully be Litigation or Employment; maybe a bit of both!