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!

How did you get started?

I left school after completing my GCSES and decided to go and study Law Policing and Criminology at college. At college I developed a real interest in law, but I knew university wasn’t for me and that I wanted to do something practical. My college tutor made me aware of the apprenticeship route and I instantly knew I wanted to look into this route further, after doing some research I knew this was the route I wanted to pursue.

Why did you choose Irwin Mitchell?

Many things attracted me to Irwin Mitchell but one of the biggest factors for me was their dedication to the early careers scheme having a manager dedicated to apprenticeships and seeing how you are supported throughout your time with them. I love the fact Irwin Mitchell care about my wellbeing and prioritise having a work life balance. When I attended interviews, I felt welcome and everyone at the firm was very friendly, it just felt like somewhere I could see myself working.

What do you like best about your job?

I think there are two elements I like most about my job. Firstly, being based in serious injury I like seeing how the work I am involved in helps support clients get back to a position they were in pre accident. I find it really rewarding knowing I’m part of a team that is making a difference.

I also find the work and cases in serious injury extremely interesting- every case is so different! I think the second thing I like best about my job is being able to take part in careers / business development events and educate people on this fairly new route into law.

What do you do on a day-to-day basis?

My day-to-day work can vary, however some of my most common tasks include.

• Reviewing medical records
• Requesting medical records
• Taking and drafting witness statements
• Attending new client appointments
• Attending conferences with counsel and clients
• Legal research.

What skills are important for your role?

I think as an apprentice there are a few key skills for me which have helped me settle into my first year. Definitely being organised- at times it can be a struggle balancing university and work, having deadlines which fall around the same time. I’d say resilience has also been a really key skill for me things will go wrong whether that be in work or academically and you have to be able to try again with a different approach.

I think willingness, hard work and dedication are the final skills I say play a really important role as long as you are all these things I believe you will find what works for you managing different things in this role.

How does the apprentice scheme work?

No matter what apprenticeship scheme you are on at Irwin Mitchell you will have 4 days working and one dedicated day to study towards your qualification with your training provider.

With the Solicitor Apprenticeship our apprenticeship is 6 years long with the University of Law. We spend the first 4 years studying towards our Law degree, our exams are made up of mixture of written exams, course work and oral exams etc and the final 2 years we spend studying towards and sitting the Solicitor qualifying exams ( SQE).

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 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.