Stepping Into the Role

I – quite wrongly – assumed that my role at Marlborough Law would consist of a lot of photocopying and making teas and coffees (I was still up for this as I knew shadowing the solicitors would still be a valuable experience). However, from day 1, the team at Marlborough Law has trusted me and given me considerable responsibility. In my first month I did such a wide variety of tasks, from drafting a Pension Sharing Order to drafting Lasting Power of Attorneys to assisting with probate matters. Additionally, over the 3 months, I have had communication with a company regarding removals of trustees. For this client, I successfully drafted a deed of removal. Furthermore, I have assisted with many conveyancing matters, from drafting TR1s to searching on the register for specific charges. One of the benefits of ML being a relatively small and tight-nit firm is that pretty much everyone in the firm can work on any case – this gives me the ability to gain experience in so many different areas.

I have constantly been supported by all my colleagues; they encourage me to sit in on their meetings so that I can learn from them. But it hasn’t all just been me sitting and observing, I have even been able to organise and conduct my own meetings. I can proudly say that I have helped three clients with their financial settlement during their respective divorces – one of these meetings was as long as two hours. After these meetings I have then put together large bundles for submission to the Court. From learning from my peers here at Marlborough Law, I was able to discuss matters professionally with clients and reassure them during times of uncertainty.

Not only this, I have also been able to sit in on a divorce hearing. During the hearing, I created an attendance note for the responsible solicitor. I later typed this up and added it to the client’s file. I found this a really insightful experience as, whilst I have attended a criminal court case during university, I was unsure of how a family case in court operated.

During my time at ML, I have also been able to carry out legal research. For example, I researched the details of serving notice under s21 and what the effects of the 2015 Regulation Act are on the requirements for landlords to provide an EPC to tenants. From my research, I concluded that, following Minister v Hathaway, an EPC is not required if the tenancy started before the Regulation Act was introduced in 2015. Through this task, my legal research skill has greatly improved which I am grateful for as I know when I return to university this will be invaluable.

The Creative Side to Marlborough Law:

Whilst my 3 months at Marlborough Law has greatly expanded my knowledge of the law, it has also allowed me to flourish creatively. I have been given the opportunity to discuss my experiences in the legal field so far on the 4 Legs Radio Show. I was also able to go to a networking event with the Chamber of Commerce. It was very insightful to observe Karen and see how networking is done by a professional solicitor. Additionally, I am looking forward to participating in the upcoming legal podcast filming whereby I will interview the barrister, Jack Rundall, about the law surrounding Cohabitation. Whilst these are really interesting experiences, Karen and Alex have also let me put forward my own ideas. Because of this, I will be returning to my old school, St John’s Marlborough, to deliver a legal workshop to prospective law students. This is something that I felt passionately about as it is a resource that I wish that I had access to during school. Thanks to the support of Marlborough Law, this is something that I can now help future law students access.

Skills that I have harnessed at ML:

As I am often the first responder to calls, I have daily experience talking to clients. This has allowed me to perfect the appropriate way to communicate with them. Moreover, I have learnt how to record my time on the software, Clio, and how important this is for all

solicitors. On the creative side, I improved my photoshop skills as I recreated the ML logo in higher resolution. I also used Vista Print to design two banners for ML. Additionally, I used Canva to create a courtroom simulation workshop to deliver to students. Lastly, I learnt the importance of Anti-Money Laundering Checks and was responsible for going over all active cases to make sure all checks had been completed and were up to date.

To Finish:

I have genuinely enjoyed my time here at Marlborough Law, not only because of the invaluable experiences that I have learnt but also because I know that I have found a law firm that aligns with my personal values. A saying that we stand by at Marlborough Law is that we are ‘a local firm for local people’. Having lived in Great Bedwyn for 10 years and Marlborough for another 10, being able to assist local people is one of my priorities and I am proud to say that during my time at Marlborough Law, I am confident that I have done this.