A day in the life of a solicitor apprentice

Ever wondered what it’s really like to work in law without going to university full-time? This blog offers a glimpse at what life as a solicitor degree apprentice might look like.

I started my apprenticeship at Pinsent Masons in September, and I can confirm that no two days are the same!

I work in the Planning & Environment Team, which is part of the Property group. This means I work on a variety of matters, from environmental issues to development planning, and recently, I have worked on a few energy and infrastructure projects. Being in this team has boosted my commercial awareness because I see how different teams work collaboratively to deliver for clients. I’ve been able to work with colleagues across the UK, which has helped me build confidence and connections.

Let me talk you through a typical day in the office…

9:15 – Arriving at the office

I walk in and greet the receptionists and security staff, and then I move on to the most vital part of the morning – getting a coffee. I head into the office and say hello to my team. We don’t have assigned desks, so I sit somewhere new each day, which is a great way to meet people across the Manchester office. Then I check my emails and calendar for any updates or new tasks.

9:30 – Team Meeting

Once a week, we have a team meeting to discuss ongoing matters and new work. It’s the perfect chance to put myself forward for tasks and learn what others are working on. If something sounds intriguing, I express my interest. Even if I can’t help this time, they’ll keep me in mind for future work. In the early weeks, it was also brilliant for learning people’s names!

9:45 – ES Chapter Reviews

Then I move on to my first task of the day – reviewing Environmental Statements. These are reports written by environmental consultants about the impact a project will have on the environment. I usually review the legislation and policy chapters. This involves looking up the legislation that a consultant has referred to and checking that it has been written correctly, and that it is relevant and up to date. This requires attention to detail, which is an important skill for all legal professionals. My comments are then reviewed by a lawyer, and I get helpful feedback. I enjoy this task because it allows me to develop a better understanding of the project as a whole and how the law applies to major developments.

11:30 – Pro bono Client Meeting

Next, I join a client call and take notes. Beforehand, I help gather documents based on the client briefing sheet. During the meeting, I see how lawyers interact with clients and what questions clients actually ask. Afterwards, I follow up on agreed actions with a much better understanding of the matter as a whole.

12:15 – Searching for Documents

Planning applications involve lots of documents, often available on Local Authority websites. I retrieve and save them locally, so that the team have easy access. It’s simple but teaches me about due diligence and the structure of planning applications.

13:00 – Lunch

Normally, I will grab lunch with the other apprentices, or trainees and paralegals. It can be a great opportunity to network with other young professionals and chat about what is happening in the other teams. I also find it interesting to discuss people’s career ambitions and the other routes into law. These connections are important, because they can last throughout your career, and it’s nice to have people to chat to and socialise with around the office.

14:00 – Title Review

This involves checking maps and plans to see if land identified in searches affects a client’s development. If it does, agreements will need to be put in place to bind the land. It’s interesting because it makes my work feel tangible.

14:45 – Legal Research

This is usually for the Environment Team. We will receive a question from the client and in order to prepare an advice note we have to do research. Normally, the lawyer will separate more complex questions out into parts and sometimes this means I get to work collaboratively with trainees in the team. It’s a great way to practise explaining complex legal rules in plain English, which is an essential skill for lawyers.

16:45 – Statutory Instrument Drafting

Next, I will spend some time adding footnotes and cross-references to a draft Development Consent Order. This is a type of secondary legislation that needs to be written in a very specific way, which requires attention to detail. It has been good practice ahead of having to reference in my university coursework. I think it’s cool that I can say I helped to draft statutory instruments as an apprentice!

17:30 – End of the day

Before I log off, I will make sure I have updated anyone who has given me work on where I am up to. I will also make sure I have properly recorded all my time for the day, so that my matter-related hours can be billed to clients. Finally, I will pack up and say goodbye to my team before heading home. The culture at Pinsent Masons is caring and encourages a healthy work-life balance, so if anyone notices me staying past half five, I am always strongly encouraged by my colleagues to head home.

Every day as an apprentice is full of opportunities to learn new things. I try to view every task with an open mind and positive attitude. I have found that the tasks you enjoy most might surprise you. There is still so much more for me to get involved in and I am excited to see how my career continues to progress at Pinsent Masons.

Does this sound like something you might be interested in? Check out our apprenticeships to learn more and email [email protected] if you have any further questions!