A Day in the Life

I am coming to the end of my second seat in the Private Client Advisory team based in Irwin Mitchell’s Chichester office.  I am a career changer into law, with a background in teaching and educational support.  I also worked in my local county council’s in-house legal services team to gain experience working in the legal sector before starting my Training Contract here at the firm.

A typical day for me as a trainee solicitor at Irwin Mitchell would be as follows:  

8:30am: I arrive at the office a bit early, partly because of the bus schedule but mostly because I like to give myself time to prepare for the day, including grabbing breakfast and catching up with colleagues.  I sit with my team in our designated area of the office to ensure I am in close contact with them and can help out when opportunities arise.

8:45am: I start my day by reading any emails that have come in since yesterday and updating my task list.  I use Microsoft OneNote to keep track of my tasks and it has been extremely useful as it is so adaptive.  I now can use Copilot to make a list of tasks for the day, starting with the most urgent then reviewing others against their deadlines.  This helps make my work efficient and productive and ensures I get work done within the timeframe that Fee Earners give me.

9:00am: By 9am I have usually started on my first big task of the day.  I like to get harder tasks done first if I can because it means they are finished sooner and the rest of the day feels easier, even if the work is just as challenging.  

Today’s task is drafting the wills of some new clients with more complex requirements for their estates.  They have recently come into substantial funds and want to leave their estate in a trust for each other and their children and also include a nil-rate band legacy to make their estate as tax-efficient as possible.  

This is the first time I have drafted wills like this, so it takes a bit more time than usual.  When we draft wills for clients, we also draft a will commentary which explains what the different parts of the will mean and how they will operate on the client’s death, and because there are trusts in the wills, we also draft Letters of Wishes to guide the trustees in how the trust should be run.  This is a substantial drafting task which therefore takes most of the morning, and I’m grateful for the bank of precedents we have so I don’t have to draft from scratch.

11:30 am: Our whole team (over 30 colleagues) gathers for our monthly team meeting. This is a chance to hear how we are performing financially against our targets, if there are any operational updates that need to be shared, to report back to each other on any business or personal wins we have achieved in our work, and any other necessary business. Although as a trainee I don’t have files in my name, hearing how my fee-earning colleagues conduct their work and manage their targets is excellent training for when I qualify and have to manage my own cases.

1.00pm: Today is the last day of work at Irwin Mitchell for one of my colleagues, so we are all going out to a local restaurant to have a meal together and give her a good send off.  The partners have even bought some bubbly so we all have a small glass to toast her on her next adventure.  My team is very supportive of each other so even though we are work colleagues, it feels more like having lunch with a big group friends.

2:00pm: Back in the office it’s time to pick up on some of the smaller tasks.  

Today I am on the new enquiries rota, which means scanning the enquiries as they come in and picking up any which relate to the geographical area covered by our team.  

New enquiries are a vital source of business for the team, so we are under a little pressure to get back to them quickly to try to win that business.  

We have to run simple conflict checks to be sure we can act, make an initial call to the client to understand the nature of the work they are requiring, using good interviewing techniques, and then allocate the enquiry to an available and appropriate fee earner. Quite often as a trainee I am invited to assist with any work that comes in this way as I have already begun to build a relationship with the client.

3:00pm: I am attending a meeting with some returning clients who have asked us to prepare their Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). 

I have previously drafted these using our specialist software to assist, and this meeting is to conduct a final review of the documents and for the clients to sign them. I am there to assist the fee earner by taking a note of the meeting, while I will later use to prepare an attendance note; and to observe how a solicitor conducts such meetings.  

We need to explain the content of the LPAs to the clients and gently probe to ensure they understand what the documents are, what they mean, and the powers they give their appointed attorneys. This is to ensure the clients have the mental capacity to make the documents and there is no chance of their being challenged later with the Office of the Public Guardian or in the Court of Protection. The meeting goes smoothly and the clients are happy with the outcome.

4:00pm: I return to my desk and as efficiently as possible dictate my attendance note into our software BigHand, and then send it off to the Document Processing Unit to be typed up in the proper format.  After this I prepare for the next phase in the registration of these LPAs by writing to the appointed attorneys with the appropriate pages for them to sign.  I prepare these letters to go out in tomorrow’s post and ask the PA team to assist in printing and collating the necessary documents and pages.

5:00pm: I’m leaving the office on time today to go and take part in the Chichester Legal Walk, which is raising money to fund the local branches of the Citizens Advice Bureau.  

I’m very passionate about access to justice so when the partners in the team were looking for someone to organise a team to participate, I jumped at the chance. We have been fundraising for the event and are nearly at our target. We can also apply for match funding from the Irwin Mitchell Charity Foundation to boost what we raise.  

We are walking 10km around the historic city of Chichester, raising money for an excellent cause and enjoying an excellent networking opportunity with the other local law firms who are also taking part. I won’t get to bed until late, but it will have been worth it! 

I am currently a first-year trainee in the Medical Negligence team based in the Birmingham office. I gained some experience as a paralegal in a different firm before joining Irwin Mitchell for my training contract in August last year; I am now nearing the end of my second seat. 

I am studying for the SQE alongside my training contract and have one day per week completely away from normal work to focus on studying.  

It’s a huge cliché, but there really is no single day which is the same as a trainee in the firm. Generally, though, a typical day for me as a trainee in Medical Negligence would usually go as follows:  

7:00am: I start my day with a gym session to wake myself up. I walk to the office afterwards and grab something quick for breakfast en-route.  

8:50am: I arrive at the office to set up for my day. We work flexibly at Irwin Mitchell, which means individuals work from home on some days and the office on others. As a trainee, you’re encouraged to work in the office so you can catch up with your colleagues and learn from those around you. I eat my breakfast whilst having a look through my to-do list for the day and making a rough plan. Inevitably, though, other work will pop up as the day progresses!  

9:00am: I grab a coffee and have a catch up with my colleagues. Tuesdays are an all-office anchor day in Birmingham, which means everyone is in and the office is very busy! I booked my desk the night before with Irwin Mitchell’s desk booking portal so I can secure my spot next to my team.  

09:10am: I start my day with drafting some Letters of Approach for expert witnesses on a couple of different cases. A Letter of Approach is a first enquiry to ask an expert if they would be able to provide a report for our case. We obtain expert reports to confirm if the Defendant is liable for our client’s injuries, or to quantify the level of care they may need in the future as a result of their injuries. This involves a review of the relevant medical records for the client to provide the expert with a brief background of the issues and to confirm the key questions we would like the expert to address in their report. Once drafted, I send these letters on to my supervisor to review.  

11:00am: I have a catch up with my supervisor since we’re both in the office. He has some more work for me to pick up on cases I haven’t worked on before, so he spends some time briefing me on where we currently are in the cases and what he would like me to do. If I have any questions which come up afterwards when I start completing the work, I can ask for help from him directly or any of the other solicitors or paralegals in the team; everyone is very eager to help.  

At this meeting, my supervisor asks me to join him in a case conference later in the day to take a note.  

11:20am: Quick tea break!  

11:30am: I have a pre-arranged call with a client to take some instructions for a witness statement to address his loss of earnings claim. Our client has suffered significant injuries which have changed his planned career path, and a witness statement from him is necessary to evidence how his injuries have impacted his future earning potential. On a previous day, I went through our client’s CV and his employment records so I could confirm which questions I needed to ask him during our call.  

13:00pm: Lunch time! It’s a beautiful summer day in Birmingham, so I head out with some of my colleagues to soak up the sunlight in a nearby rooftop pub garden (we stick to pop!). Afterwards, I head back to the office and eat my lunch in the social space in the office.  

14:15pm: After a slightly extended lunch break, I prepare for the conference I will be attending with my supervisor. Ahead of attending a conference, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the key issues in the case and consider what we are looking to clarify with the experts who will be attending. The instructions my supervisor drafted for counsel ahead of the conference are a good place to start, so I consider these and make my own notes on the salient points to help me follow the conference.  

14:30pm: I attend the case conference with my supervisor. This is a remote meeting with instructed counsel for the case, the client (or their litigation friend) and the relevant experts who have already provided their reports. The purpose of a case conference is to challenge the expert evidence to ensure that our case stands up to scrutiny, and to distil and finalise the core allegations in our case before we serve a Letter of Claim on the Defendant. As a trainee, my task is to make a detailed note of everything that is said and ensure all of the necessary follow up work is captured in the note so this can be appropriately delegated after the conference.  

16:30pm: I take a few minutes to give my fingers a well-needed rest before finalising my file note. Case conferences are recorded, so I cross-check my note with the recording to ensure all of the relevant information is captured in the note. I then email on my note with the identified action points to my supervisor with some suggested next steps for him to consider. I also take some time to revisit my notes following the client call I had in the morning and finalise the corresponding file note, so this is all clearly recorded on the client file.  

18:00pm: I end work for the day and meet up with my fellow trainees for a networking event. This is an event put on my BCL Legal regarding the Birmingham legal sector and key things to do on the run up to qualification. It’s a great opportunity to meet up with trainees from other firms, catch up with the trainees at Irwin Mitchell and enjoy some food and refreshments

20:00pm: I’m home! It’s been a long day, so I just relax with a good book and get ready for tomorrow.   

I am currently a first seat trainee in the Asbestos and Occupational Disease team based in Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office. Before starting in this role, I gained valuable experience and insight working as a paralegal at the firm.

A typical day for me as a trainee solicitor at Irwin Mitchell would usually be as follows: 

8:40am: I arrive at the office early to set up at my desk. At Irwin Mitchell, we use a desk booking system, and today I have booked a desk on the seventh floor, where my team usually sits together. I also use this time to catch up with colleagues and to grab a hot drink to start off my day, which helps me settle into my morning routine. 

8:50am: I review my to-do list and diary to prioritise tasks for the day. This involves assessing deadlines and determining which tasks require attention based on priority. I also check my emails for any urgent client or internal communications that need immediate action, ensuring that nothing critical is overlooked. 

9:00am: I begin my day by conducting an in-depth review of a client’s medical records. It is crucial to carefully examine these records to ensure we haven’t missed any important details, such as a significant medical condition or a potential earlier date of knowledge in respect of the case. I prepare a detailed file note of my findings, highlighting key points and any discrepancies, and forward this on to the case handler for review. 

11:00am: As today is one of my team’s office anchor days, I have scheduled an in-person catch-up with my supervisor. We discuss my progress on tasks, and I receive valuable feedback on my work. We also talk about upcoming business development opportunities for me to get involved in within the team, as well as my interest in joining IM Aspiring, an internal diversity and inclusion group focused on social mobility issues in the workplace. My supervisor, who is the network chair of IM Aspiring, shares exciting updates about the group’s initiatives and projects, which further motivates me to participate. 

11:30am: I return to my desk to finish drafting a Letter of Claim that I started preparing the previous day. Attention to detail is crucial when completing this task as this document will outline the Claimant’s case and will aim to facilitate admissions from the Defendant, potentially avoiding the expense of formal court proceedings. I carefully review our client’s witness statement and other records to ensure the accuracy of this letter. I then highlight a few sections where I feel that we are missing relevant information before forwarding this piece of work to my supervisor for review. 

1:00pm: Time for lunch! Today, I meet with a few of my fellow trainees. Birmingham has so many great places to eat, and after some serious deliberation, we decide to head to an amazing burrito place around the corner from the office. We pick up our food and return to the office canteen on the seventh floor to eat and chat about our days. 

2:00pm: I return to my desk and call a client to take their witness statement. This claim relates to occupational asthma, and it is therefore vital to get the client’s detailed recollection of events whilst maintaining a sensitive and appropriate tone. We go over the client’s medical and occupational history and have a detailed discussion regarding the circumstances of their potential exposure. I have prepared a few specific questions beforehand to assist me with structuring our conversation. I make sure to take detailed notes during the call to help me later. 

3:45pm: After our call, I finalise my notes and begin drafting the witness statement by reviewing all of the relevant details discussed. When completing this task, it is important to present the events in a chronological order, making the narrative easy to follow. I ensure that each point is accurately captured and clearly articulated, cross-referencing with medical records and other evidence to maintain consistency. 

4:50pm: To finish off the day, I review my task list, respond to any outstanding emails, and update my trainee diary to include entries relating to the tasks that I have completed today. This helps me keep track of my progress and ensures that I am prepared for the next day. 

5:30pm: After work, to welcome new team members and celebrate recent promotions, my colleagues and I go out for food and karaoke in Birmingham. This is a great way to unwind after a busy day and to bond with my new team.

I have recently hit the halfway point of my training contract at Irwin Mitchell, having just started my third seat in the commercial team in our Leeds office. 

While I am only on week two of my commercial seat, I have already been given the opportunity to assist in some really interesting work. 

The below sets out a typical day for me as an Irwin Mitchell trainee, although things often vary from day to day and also from team to team: 

8:30am: I like to arrive at the office early so it gives me time to get set up, have an informal catch up with colleagues and check through my emails before the working day starts. At Irwin Mitchell, we use a desk booking system, so I book to sit with my new team, just a few rows away from my old team (employment). 

8:45am: After checking my emails, I create a ‘to do’ list on my notepad each day which sets out the tasks to be completed in order of priority. I also check my list from the day before in case any of the work is still ongoing and needs to be worked on again today.

9:00am: As the commercial team in Leeds specialises in data protection law, I spend some time researching updates in the data protection legal scene in preparation for the weekly roundup of data protection developments which myself and the paralegal in our team send out to the wider team. 

9:30am: I head to a meeting room in the office with my team to join the weekly national commercial team call where we connect online with our colleagues in London, Sheffield and Birmingham. Everybody in the team discusses any new work they have on and what their capacity is like for the week.

 9:45am: I go and grab a latte from the coffee machine in our kitchen/social area. Here, I usually have a quick catch up with other colleagues in different departments as we wait for our coffees to be made. 

10:00am: I deal with a couple of new enquiries that have been passed over by a colleague in the Employment team and one from the Corporate team. The way we deal with new enquiries as a trainee is to get the contact details from whoever has referred them to our team and give the individual a call to get some more information from them so that we can determine how we can best help them. I give the individual a call, explain that I am a trainee in our commercial team and ask what support the individual is looking for.

I always ensure that I ask for details of all parties involved so they we can run our internal conflict checks to ensure that we can act. I make a file note of the call and then share a summary of the call with my team to see who is best placed to deal with the matter. If we decide it does not fall within the commercial remit, we will pass the enquiry on to another team.

By coming into the office a lot, I have got to know a lot of people in different teams so I usually give a quick call via Microsoft Teams to a contact in a different team or pop over to where the relevant team sit to see if the enquiry is something they can take on. 

11:00am: My team and I head into a board room in the office for a Leeds team commercial catch up. In this meeting we discuss the team away day which is being planned for October as well as workload, any new incoming work and what everyone has been up to. 

11:30am: I begin working on a ‘Red Flag Review’ for a sports client we work with. This involves going through the contract that the client currently uses and commenting on any clauses that we think need amending or adding in to ensure the contract is legally compliant and as effective as it can be for our client. The next step once we have completed the review and picked up on any existing errors in their current version will likely be to re-draft the contract for the client which I will be asked to pick up. 

12:00pm: I give a call to my supervising colleague to run through a few things I had come across that I was unsure of whilst doing the review. I share my screen and we go through the points together so that I have full understanding. I then continue working on the review. 

1:00pm: I head to the kitchen area along with the other trainees. We try to have lunch together every day when we are in the office so that we can have a catch up and see how we are all getting on. After eating, we tend to go on a quick walk around Wellington Place (where our office is located) for some fresh air before heading back to our desks. 

2:00pm: My supervisor asks me to have a look at the website of a potential new client as they have scheduled in a call with us for later on today. I spend some time reviewing their website and seeing what it is that the company do, making a note to share with my supervisor. 

2:15pm: I spend some time amending some Terms and Conditions for a client which I was working on last week. My supervisor has now looked at the Terms and Conditions and has made some further suggestions on how we can amend them. I spend some time working on this. I go onto Practical Law to find a precedent template for further inspiration on any amendments that might be useful for our client. I use Practical Law and Lexis a lot as a trainee for research and for finding precedent contracts and clauses.

3:15pm: I am part of the Irwin Mitchell Charity Foundation committee and we are in the process of preparing for a charity walk that we are doing as an office across Yorkshire. I send out an office-wide email attaching the JustGiving link to encourage colleague’s to donate and join us on the walk.

 3:30pm: My supervisor and I go into a meeting room to connect with the potential new client via Microsoft Teams as they are based abroad. The client tells us a bit of background about their company and about what legal support they are looking for from us. Myself and my supervisor then introduce ourselves. During the call, I draft an attendance note to keep on record and share with the supervisor afterwards. 

4:00pm: After client calls, my supervisor and I have a 5-10 minute debrief to summarise what we both took from the call and discuss next steps for the client. Given that I am new to the seat and the content of the call was quite technical, I decide to spend 30 minutes or so reviewing the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidance on marketing as ICO guidance is a resource we frequently refer to on data protection matters. 

4:30pm: When we take on a new piece of work for a client, we have to draft what we call an ‘estimate.’ This is essentially an email to the client setting out the scope of work that we agree to complete for the client, the fees we will charge for the work and a timeline for when the work will be completed. As we have recently been instructed to draft a privacy notice for another client’s website, I draft the estimate email for this client and send it to my colleague for review. Once my colleague approves of the scope of work and fee I have put down, it can be sent to the client for their approval. 

4:45pm: One of my colleagues asks if I have capacity tomorrow to have a look at a new Convention on the safe use of artificial intelligence. As I have a bit of time today, I spend some time looking on the European Commission and UK Government websites and produce a note to share with my colleagues, summarising the convention and what the UK government has said regarding the future of artificial intelligence in relation to human rights protection. 

5:15pm: I go through my to-do list to check that my tasks for today have been ticked off. I then give my emails another check. 

5:30pm: I log off to go to the gym!

I am currently a first seat trainee, sitting in the Workplace Injury team in Irwin Mitchell’s London office. I previously worked as a paralegal at IM and was able to carry on working for the firm part-time whilst completing the LPC. 

A typical day for me as a trainee at Irwin Mitchell would usually be as follows: 

8:40am: I arrive at the office early so that I have some time to catch up with colleagues and get set up at my desk before the working day starts. At Irwin Mitchell we use a desk booking system and I have booked a desk on the second floor of our London office, where my team usually sit together. 

8:50am: After setting up at my desk, I review my to do list and my diary so that I can prioritise tasks that need to be completed today. I also check my emails to see if I have received any urgent emails from clients that need to be dealt with as a priority. 

9:00am: I begin drafting a Part 8 claim form, a notice of funding and witness statement on a mesothelioma personal injury claim that I have been working on. These documents are required so that the court can approve of a settlement agreed between our client and the Defendant. Once I have finished drafting, I send these documents to my supervisor for review.

10:30am: I attend the weekly London Workplace Injury team meeting, in one of our office meeting rooms. Today is an ‘anchor day’ for our team, which means that most colleagues in the team are in the office to attend this meeting in person, whilst others join remotely via Microsoft Teams.

While we have a flexible by choice system at Irwin Mitchell (that gives colleagues the choice on whether they work from home or in the office), some teams have regular anchor days to give colleagues the chance to work together in person, catch up and attend business development events. At today’s team meeting, we discuss the team’s current targets, how everyone is managing their workloads and any current trends effecting our cases. 

11:30am: I make a call to a family member of a client to discuss information required to prepare a witness statement, detailing the care and support provided to our client following a diagnosis of mesothelioma. This is an emotional call for our client’s family member, so I have to manage this conversation sensitively to obtain the necessary information to progress our client’s claim, whilst also ensuring the family member feels supported.

12:15am: I complete the file note for this call and subsequently begin drafting the corresponding witness statement for my supervisor’s review. 1:00am: I take my lunch break and meet with the other trainees in the office today. There is a great food market close by the London office, so we walk outside to get some fresh air and take some time deciding which of the many stalls to choose from (I ended up going for a Yorkshire pudding burrito!). 

2:00pm: I attend a conference with counsel and a client with my supervisor. The purpose of this conference is for counsel to advise the client on the requirements of an evidence on commission hearing necessary as part of the client’s mesothelioma personal injury claim. This claim is particularly complex due to a large number of defendants and as a result, I make detailed notes to ensure that the corresponding conference note is accurate. 

3:00pm: During my trainee induction, I signed up to IM Aspiring (one of the many diversity networks at Irwin Mitchell) and this afternoon I attend my first meeting with the group. IM Aspiring is a group that focusses on social mobility issues and works to continue IM’s efforts to become a responsible business by giving those from low socio-economic backgrounds the chance to build a career at the firm. It is great to hear about some of the projects that the group are working on and start to get involved.

4:00pm: I draft my attendance note from this afternoon’s conference with counsel. I take care to ensure that all key pieces of advice are included so that we have an accurate record of these discussions on file moving forward.

4:45pm: I run the Irwin Mitchell men’s football team in the London office, so I send an email organising next week’s game. We play once a week in a league with other law firms in the local area. 

4:50pm: I review my to do list to ensure that I am on top off all tasks that I have been assigned and plan what needs to be done the following day. I also respond to other emails received during the day. 

5:30pm: I attend a ‘speed networking’ event organised by the IM London Client sharing team. This event gives colleagues a chance to meet new people from a range of departments across the business and build their networks. It is a great event with drinks and nibbles available too!

I chose the solicitor apprenticeship because I wanted to gain hands-on legal experience while working towards my degree and qualification. The chance to combine work and study felt like the best of both worlds, and three years in, I know I made the right decision. 

The apprenticeship has been both challenging and rewarding. I’ve learnt so much- not just about the law, but also about communication, teamwork, and developing confidence. Balancing client work and academic study can be tough at times, but I’ve found that having a clear routine and keeping in touch with colleagues about my workload makes it manageable. The support of my team has been invaluable in helping me grow. 

My week usually runs Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Mondays are our teams work-from-home day, while Thursdays are when the whole team comes together in the office. Fridays are my dedicated study day, and I treat it like a normal working day to stay productive and focused.

Since the very beginning, I have been part of the Public Law and Human Rights department and have had the chance to move across several of its sub-departments. I am currently working within the Civil Liberties and Court of Protection teams, where no two days are ever the same.

In Civil Liberties, my work often involves preparing for and attending client meetings, attending inquest hearings, reviewing third party disclosure and medical records, and liaising with defendants. 

Alongside this, my Court of Protection cases see me drafting directions orders, instructions to counsel, and advice for clients, all of which help ensure vulnerable individuals’ interests are properly represented. Over time, as I’ve gained experience in Court of Protection work, I’ve found myself trusted with more responsibility; I now manage elements of cases with only light-touch supervision, which has been a real confidence boost and a rewarding step in my development.

Outside of work and study, I think it’s important to make time for family and friends. Planning things in advance- whether that’s a weekend away or dinner after work- helps me maintain balance and keeps me motivated and I also enjoy getting involved in internal IM activities too as it gives me a chance to meet people outside my team. 

Looking back, the apprenticeship has given me incredible opportunities to learn, develop and gain confidence, and I’m excited to continue the journey towards qualification.