The reality of working in law

A typical working day

I handle a range of complex and high-value disputes on behalf of legal professionals, including solicitors and barristers, and their insurers. One of the things I enjoy most is the variety of work my practice brings.

My clients include solicitors across a range of practice areas. I defend negligence claims involving everything from conveyancing and litigation to criminal, corporate and family law. I particularly enjoy claims involving wills and trusts, having always enjoyed this area of law since studying it at law school.

Handling a busy caseload requires a good deal of organisation and time management, with court deadlines on litigated matters naturally taking priority. Another big part of my job as a defendant lawyer is the 'detective work' - going through the underlying file of papers to establish whether the claimant (usually their former client) is correct in the allegations they are making against the solicitor. I really enjoy this side of the role - picking holes in a claimant's case is a very satisfying exercise, and I find it rewarding to defend solicitors in what can often be a very stressful experience for them.

Associates in my team are expected to take the lead on their own caseload, with supervision from partners and senior associates where appropriate. I really like this way of working - there is no micro-management. You are given training and guidance where needed, as this is a technically difficult area of law, but you are also trusted to take responsibility for your own files. Since becoming a senior associate, I am now taking on more of a supervisory role on files too.

Working hours

My contracted hours start at 9.30am, which provides flexibility for those with childcare commitments. I usually arrive at my desk around 8.45am and work from the office most days because I value the social contact it offers. RPC is a really sociable firm, and I always look forward to coming in and seeing my colleagues and friends here.

My day usually flies by. There can sometimes be longer hours in busy periods such as the lead-up to a hearing or mediation, but I very rarely leave the office after 6pm. I prefer to have an early start over a late finish.

Law firm culture

When I was qualifying, I wanted to work somewhere that would:

• allow me to learn from leading lawyers in their field
• give me access to high-quality work
• maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The culture at RPC's Bristol office has given me all three. I have progressed to senior associate in only four years, thanks to the high quality work we get and the excellent supervision and training the team offers. Importantly, I have never had to compromise my work-life balance to progress.

Securing a training position

Being a good lawyer is about more than technical knowledge. Communication, organisation, judgment and the ability to build relationships all matter, both when you are applying for a training contract and as you progress through your career.

Securing a training contract is a huge step and it is understandably very competitive. The core legal skills are absolutely fundamental to you progressing as a lawyer, but I think it is equally important (and perhaps more so) to demonstrate the professional skills that show an interviewer you would be someone they could work with every day.

Read up on the essential skills for a career in law.

Career progression

From an early stage, we are given a clear understanding of what is expected to progress to the next step in our careers. The criteria for promotion are made really clear to trainees and associates at all levels, and regular conversations with your line manager are useful to help you set the direction for your career and discuss where you want to go.

There is a real commitment in my team to recruiting at junior level and developing people from within the firm. There have been numerous internal promotions to partner and senior associate, and I was delighted to be promoted to senior associate this year.

Developing experiences across different practice areas

Solicitors' defence work is not necessarily an area of law that many people set out to go into when they train, but it has exposed me to so many different areas of law.

I defend:

• conveyancers
• corporate lawyers
• family lawyers
• solicitors across all practice areas
• will-drafters.

I have also had the opportunity to develop secondary specialisms in:

• insurance coverage disputes
• licensed conveyancers' defence work
• insurance brokers' errors and omissions (E&O) claims.

This variety has allowed me to develop a broad skill set while also building expertise in particular areas. It means I can contribute to the continued growth of my team into new areas of work, while continuing to learn myself, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role.

Find out more

• Discover how to become a lawyer.
• Take a look at the top UK law firms.
• Learn more about working at RPC.