Why I wanted to become a Solicitor and how did I get there?
My interest in law began when I was in Secondary School and was offered the opportunity to complete against other schools and colleges in a Mock Trial run by the Citizenship Foundation. I found the experience to be very interesting and really enjoyed the challenge involved and also the prospect of helping people.
I then continued by completing my A Level in Law and completing my LLB Hons in 2020 and my Masters in law with the LPC in 2021. I then began my training contract in May 2022, experiencing different areas of law including Family, Probate and Conveyancing. I then qualified as a Solicitor in November 2023.
Why did I choose Family Law?
Before I completed my training contract, I gained experience as a Paralegal working in the Private Family Team and knew that this was an area of law which interested me. I enjoy the prospect of being able to offer client’s detailed and tailored legal advice in language which is clear and concise.
It is also a pleasure to help those who are victims of domestic abuse or vulnerable to assert their legal rights and then help them navigate often stressful and challenging legal proceedings.
General Day
Each day as a Solicitor presents its own challenges, however here are some of the tasks which I typically complete:
- Drafting applications to Court.
- Meeting with client’s and providing detailed and specific advice to their case.
- Drafting advice letter to client’s to ensure that any advice given is contained in writing for them to refer to at a later date.
- Drafting witness or position statements on behalf of client’s to ensure their evidence and point of view is given to the Court ahead of any hearing.
- Representing client’s during court proceedings
- Negotiating with the opposing party to reach a settlement or agreement which is beneficial for our client
- Attending to training sessions for updated information or legal developments
- Researching niche areas of law
What happens at a Family Court hearing?
Where parties have been unable to reach an agreement, and Court proceedings have been issued, I will attend Court where available to represent our client’s interests. Below is how a general day at Court will go:
- I will usually speak to our client in the days approaching the hearing to ensure I have the most up to date instructions and address any concerns that they may have ahead of the hearing.
- Check in at the Usher’s desk and ensure that if special measures are required, then this is put in place by the Court.
- I will take any further instructions and give detailed advice in respect of the process involved during the hearing, and the likely outcomes.
- I will then speak with the other party either via their representative or directly if they are a litigant in person. Sometimes the issues can be negotiated or narrowed before we actually go into the court room.
- Having discussions before the hearing is very important so that each party knows the position of the other and we have a clear list of agreed and unagreed issues.
- I will then represent our client in the court hearing and put their case forward to ensure they are heard and the Court take note of their position.
- After the hearing, I will hold post hearing discussions with the client to confirm what the Court has decided ad to clarify any questions our client has
- I will then draft the order and send this to the Court for approval.
- I always follow up with an outcome of hearing letter to our client to confirm the outcomes in writing so they can refer back to this at any point.
Personal Life
… and yes, I acknowledge that this is a remarkably busy role, so this is how I balance all of that:
- I love a good walk in the countryside, with the Peak District being one of my favourites!
- I enjoy getting into the kitchen and baking cakes and biscuits galore! Subsequently I have developed a reputation for baking a lovely Victoria Sponge and have a list of requests after each department meeting!
- I also enjoy a quiz, recently competing for Talbots at Blackthorns quiz night in aid of First Class Foundation. I can’t promise giving any correct answers, but it’s the taking part that counts right?
Related Articles
A Guide To The Life Of A Family Paralegal – Talbots (talbotslaw.co.uk)