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Work Experience in a solicitor's office

Hey, I'm doing a week long placement in a small solicitor's office, and was wondering if anyone had done a similar placement before, and what it involved? Like I say, it's a small, local, office, and they specialise mainly in criminal work, and was just wondering what people think I'll be doing? i.e. will I spend the week photocopying, or am I likely to have the opportunity to get more involved than this?

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Reply 1

_Dynamite_

I done a weeks work experience in a solicitor's office and most of it was just filing, photocopying and answering the phone. But I also got to sit in on a few meetings with clients. That was basically it, from what I can remember anyway!

Reply 2

digitalparadox

Yep it would be pretty boring and hardly means anything on your cv. But then again, now i've secured a 10 month contract at a corporate law firm for my gap year, so you have to start somewhere!

Reply 3

~Bex~

digitalparadox

Yep it would be pretty boring and hardly means anything on your cv. But then again, now i've secured a 10 month contract at a corporate law firm for my gap year, so you have to start somewhere!

It might be boring, but I would rather be doing this than working in a shop for a week tbh.

Reply 4

bene gesserit

Im working at a solicitors office for the majority of my gap year (I am there now in fact!)

I type up letters - copy the enclosures. Answer the phone. File everything away. Update the law reference books. Update the computer law forms programme. Put together Trial bundles. It can be very intersting simply watching a case progress.

Hope you enjoy yours.

Reply 5

r0b

When i took my work experience in a smallish soclicitor's firm i had the opportunity to go to court every day....and spent most of my time there. I got to listen to some inetersting cases...especially whilst in the Crown Court. I also got to visit a few clients...but i never had to do any boring paper work...but i think i was pretty lucky. Hope you are too. :biggrin:

Reply 6

Dolly

I did a week in a really small solicitors office when I was 15/16 and there basically wasn't much I could do. I had a go at audio-typing (which most of the legal secretaries did), photocopying and filing. I got to sit in on one or two meetings with clients and was allowed to read through case files which was quite interesting.

Reply 7

Duck and Cover

r0b

Yeah same, I've just come back from France doing a week at a lawyers, and I spent every day in court and it was great!

Reply 8

cbtaylor87

blueberry

just wondering...did u have any office experience before you got this job or did you just get it straight out of school? im a first yr law student and would love a part-time job in law/legal field, no matter how boring but everywhere i look u seem to need "office" or "receptionisy" experience???

Reply 9

~Bex~

cbtaylor87

I've never actually had such a job, so take my advice with a pinch of salt, but maybe you should try writing to all the local solicitor's (especially small ones) with a copy of your CV asking if they have a job available, rather than just waiting for such a job to be advertised? Just a suggestion.

Reply 10

Lettuce

I was going to go to a solicitors office but found it hard to get in anywhere in my area, so i ended up going to the local county court. It was amazing yeah i had to some filing, but i sat and watched court cases for the majority of time and if i didn't find the case interested i left and went elsewhere. I met district judges, barristers etc. The crown court court came down and sat in the magistrates court so i got to see that, including an appeal where they had to do video link with the prison. It was a really interesting experience.

Reply 11

Happy1

I did two. The first place gave me all teh stuff like photocopying etc to do which was pretty boring, but they also took me to court, let me read some case notes, and even had me writing letters since i can take dictation.

The second place was even better - they actually let me get properly involved, by asking my opinion on cases, asking me to put together trial bundles etc. It depends on whether you're a fast learner as to what you get to do.

Reply 12

carlyb

For those who have done the work experience, were u paid? Just wondering if it was voluntary as I'm hoping to be paid in my gap year!

Reply 13

ElWilson

Did you all do this experience in a gap year or in Sixth Form/Summer etc.?

Reply 14

~Bex~

I'm doing mine next week and I'm in sixth form

Reply 15

Champagne-Dahling

Did mine at the end of year 10, as part of the school's work exp scheme. Had to be the most boring 2 weeks i've ever spent! Practically lived in the bloody basement the entire time, (that's where the photocopier was).

Reply 16

mrteacher

~Bex~

I'm doing mine next week and I'm in sixth form

ohh congrats it will be a fanstastic experience

Reply 17

Crazy Mongoose

I did mine with a friendly district judge; sat with her over a few cases for a day. Most interesting! And i actually didn't have to do any work!

Reply 18

completely random

When I was about 17 I did a week's work experience with a firm in my home town, mostly it involved sitting in court and listening to cases, which was quite interesting. I also got to look at case notes and sort out case files. There's not much else you will be doing really, making coffee etc was one of my key jobs :biggrin: