As part of my undergraduate degree, I completed an internship at a law firm so I had a brief idea of what to expect. However, the experience exponentially surpassed these expectations.
When I first arrived at SJP, I was initially struck by the friendly and welcoming aura in the office. I was immediately made to feel welcome, and it seemed as though everyone genuinely wanted to get to know me and contribute to my experience.
The work experience scheme itself was excellently organised. The first day began with introductions to the members of the team, discussions about procedures and details about the firm, as well as a general overview of what I was to expect.
Once this had been done, no time was wasted in starting me on the exercises. The experience was designed to simulate a training contract. To this end, the exercises comprised of simulations of real cases and included: writing letters, drafting wills, completing research reports and filling in Land Registry forms. After I had completed each exercise, I had the opportunity to discuss it with one of the supervisors, receive feedback and ask any questions. Although the tasks were challenging, they gave a great insight into the reality of being a solicitor. In my opinion this is what made them so impactful.
As well as the exercises, the culture and people within the firm played a huge part in making my experience so wonderful. I was based in the York office and it was refreshing to be in an environment where everyone enjoyed both their jobs and the people they work with. The atmosphere in the office was friendly and professional. It became apparent that this type of environment contributes to the office being extremely efficient. SJP is a medium sized firm, with an open door policy. If a member of the team has a question or needs a second opinion, it can be attained extremely quickly thus saving time.
I was hoping that this work experience would give an insight into areas of practice for my future which was definitely the case. It reinforced my desire to go into property or corporate law.
In addition, working at SJP has helped me decide on the type of firm I would like to work in. Although I had decided I did not want to work in a larger firm, this experience has now created an active desire to work in a medium sized firm. This is because even during my short time at SJP, I was made to feel like part of the team as opposed to just a number.
In conclusion, the work experience was extremely motivating for me. My confidence has improved tremendously and I have gained skills that I will use in the LPC that can only be attained through practice. Nothing could have made my experience better, except more time there. I would fully recommend completing work experience at SJP for anyone interested in working in the legal field and I am grateful for all of the time and effort that went into organising it for me.
