My First Year as a Trainee
3rd September 2009 by: Moshe Moses
It is hard to believe that a year has gone by so quickly, but here I am facing the final year of my training contract. My seats so far have included residential and commercial Property and Litigation.
My first seat was in Property where I found myself instantly managing my own caseload. You quickly find out that as these files are considered your own, you are the only point of contact for any inward communication, be it a phone call, letter, fax or email!
During my time in the seat I managed files where I was instructed to act on commercial lease renewals and residential sales and purchases. I was also involved with drafting auction contracts and option agreements. I really enjoyed my time in Property and it was a great start to my training. Although daunting at first, each file provides you with more experience and before you know it, you find yourself in familiar territory with your client skills, speed and technical competence improving.
Six months in Property flew by and next thing I know I am sat in the Litigation Department. I found Litigation to be quite a refreshing change from Property because I found that each file that I was involved with was completely different from the previous one.
While in Litigation I have been involved with Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence cases as well as Property and Commercial Litigation files. Day to day tasks are always varied because unlike Property you are not exclusively handling your own caseload. The Litigation trainee is expected to provide support when any legal research is required. This is often quite interesting and gives a feeling of satisfaction when you are able to draft a memo providing answers to all the questions posed. One highlight of my time in Litigation (which I won't forget in a hurry) has to be when I appeared before a Master at the Royal Courts of Justice to make an application. I won’t bore you with the details but I will tell you that it was quite an experience especially because I was sent to make the application on my own!
All in all, my first year has gone really well and I’m pleased to be able to say that support, assistance and advice from all members of staff has been forthcoming in both seats. My next seat is going to be a combination of Corporate and contentious Employment. I am especially looking forward to this seat as I chose to study these areas of law as my electives during my LPC. Watch this space as I’m sure I will be asked to blog about my experience in 6 months time!
My first seat was in Property where I found myself instantly managing my own caseload. You quickly find out that as these files are considered your own, you are the only point of contact for any inward communication, be it a phone call, letter, fax or email!
During my time in the seat I managed files where I was instructed to act on commercial lease renewals and residential sales and purchases. I was also involved with drafting auction contracts and option agreements. I really enjoyed my time in Property and it was a great start to my training. Although daunting at first, each file provides you with more experience and before you know it, you find yourself in familiar territory with your client skills, speed and technical competence improving.
Six months in Property flew by and next thing I know I am sat in the Litigation Department. I found Litigation to be quite a refreshing change from Property because I found that each file that I was involved with was completely different from the previous one.
While in Litigation I have been involved with Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence cases as well as Property and Commercial Litigation files. Day to day tasks are always varied because unlike Property you are not exclusively handling your own caseload. The Litigation trainee is expected to provide support when any legal research is required. This is often quite interesting and gives a feeling of satisfaction when you are able to draft a memo providing answers to all the questions posed. One highlight of my time in Litigation (which I won't forget in a hurry) has to be when I appeared before a Master at the Royal Courts of Justice to make an application. I won’t bore you with the details but I will tell you that it was quite an experience especially because I was sent to make the application on my own!
All in all, my first year has gone really well and I’m pleased to be able to say that support, assistance and advice from all members of staff has been forthcoming in both seats. My next seat is going to be a combination of Corporate and contentious Employment. I am especially looking forward to this seat as I chose to study these areas of law as my electives during my LPC. Watch this space as I’m sure I will be asked to blog about my experience in 6 months time!
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