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So, the first week of my placement is complete and I honestly didn’t believe that it would be this good! So far I have only made two teas and they were both for myself, so it’s safe to say it’s not that kind of placement! Instead, for my first week I was in the Family Law part of the offices and during that time I attended three court hearings and shadowed eight client meetings. It’s fair to say that my hand can’t always keep up with the notes I need to be taking but it’s been an amazing experience and I can’t thank Battens enough for giving me full disclosure to such sensitive information. However due to it all being private my inserts can’t be any more detailed than this.
Apologies for the delay, but I am struggling to find something to write about last week. It’s quite difficult due to the confidentiality needed in the legal world.
Last week I was practicing land law. Now, if you want to know the contents of a TR1 or the thresholds for Stamp Duty then I’m your girl, but if you don’t then I’m not sure what else I can tell you other than buying, selling or renting properties is quite complicated.
On Tuesday however, I sat behind counsel for a case from my first week. It was very interesting to see how a Barrister deals with a case, if this is the first time they have dealt with the client then they have read everything about them in the trial bundle but haven’t actually met them yet. Now, currently I am wanting to pursue a career as a barrister rather than a solicitor and I cannot figure out if not meeting the client beforehand is a pro or a con. One the one hand you don’t have any emotional ties to the case so in some senses you may be more professional and more effective. However, if you haven’t met them can you really represent them effectively without knowing what their best interests are? I am yet to figure that out. I found myself getting angry when our client was being criticised by the opposing side’s barrister and I wonder if that may blur your vision as a solicitor or do you just learn to detach yourself emotionally as such from the case. From what I’ve seen that isn’t the it, they still are annoyed or upset but their professionalism overrules that and I think in time I will learn.
On Friday I also attended a court hearing in the Bournemouth County Court where they have much better facilities in comparison to Weymouth, which was nice to see. I was also allowed to sit in an advocates meeting which is funny in itself, you wouldn’t know they were all from opposing sides. Obviously, as they do this a lot they all know each other and all have relationships with each other, so it’s friendly.
So week two was different to the first but just as good. Now to continue with week three where I am in civil litigation.
Week three I spent in civil litigation.
I was intrigued by the range of things people claim for/argue over. Some of the cases have been open for 5+ years and generally over something so trivial that it would have been cheaper and easier to have let it go at the beginning rather than have began proceedings. However, I guess we only know that once we’ve done it and such is life.
Unfortunately I missed a mediation appointment for results day which would have been interesting to see. Yet, I did get to spend a day at the Yeovil offices which are much bigger than the rest and the atmosphere was fun, buzzing.
Now I begin my fourth and final week, for which I am returning to family law.
Week four was back to family law and as usual it was one case followed by another. I also sat behind counsel on another two court cases, which as always I throughly enjoyed.
Once my week came to an end I was sad to leave and as a goodbye I was given flowers and a present. I cannot thank Battens or the Sir Samuel Mico Trust for offering me my scholarship as it truly was invaluable. Getting such an insight into my chosen field has given me such a head start in life. As a result, I have chosen to take a year out to gain more legal experience and the scholarship has actually helped me to gain it. I am now in the process of becoming an ‘appropriate adult’ for children that are being questioned. I also will be sitting behind counsel for a criminal defence barrister in London. I also hope there will be much more to come in the following year.
So, although it was sad to leave Battens after the month I spent there, it was only the beginning.
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