First Month as a Litigation Trainee Solicitor

I can’t quite believe I’m already a month into my first seat as a trainee solicitor in the Litigation team. My trainee induction was slightly different from the usual process, as I was lucky enough to already work at Gilson Gray. Before starting my traineeship, I spent 18 months working as a Conveyancing Assistant in the New Build team. This gave me a great introduction to the firm, its people and its culture, while also helping me develop practical skills that have made the transition into my traineeship that little bit easier.

That said, moving into Litigation has certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had become comfortable with the routine of my role in residential conveyancing, so moving into a completely new team, a new office and a very different area of law has been a steep learning curve. However, one month in, I can safely say that I am absolutely loving it.

Getting involved from day one

One of the things that has surprised me most is just how quickly I have been given the opportunity to get involved in real work and contribute to interesting cases.

In my first month, I have attended court, sat in on client meetings, drafted court documents, carried out legal research and assisted with onboarding new clients. I have also had the opportunity to work alongside the team on some fascinating and complex cases. What I particularly enjoy about Litigation is the variety. No two cases are the same, and the work spans such a wide range of disputes and areas of law. It makes every day different, and there is always something new to learn.

While I won’t have rights of audience until the second year of my traineeship, having the opportunity to attend court and observe has already been invaluable. There is so much to learn by watching experienced litigators in practice, and I am looking forward to getting as much exposure to court work as I can over the course of my seat.

Learning the realities of practice

Something else that has stood out to me is just how much there is to learn beyond the law itself. University teaches you the law, but working in practice quickly introduces you to the commercial realities of being a solicitor. I am developing a much better understanding of time recording, fees, and the importance of working efficiently, while always being mindful of achieving the best and most cost-effective outcome for the client.

Time management has probably been one of my biggest learning curves so far. Between new enquiries, existing matters, client and court meetings, training and induction sessions, I have quickly realised how important it is to prioritise effectively and stay organised.

I am also learning to be more proactive. Whether that means preparing a detailed file note so that another member of the team can quickly understand what has happened, or drafting a proposed response to a client for my supervisor to review rather than asking what I should say, I am beginning to understand how I can make myself useful to the wider team while developing my own confidence at the same time.

Embracing the learning curve

Perhaps one of the most important things I have learned so far is that, as a trainee, you are not expected to know everything. There will inevitably be things you have never done before, questions you need to ask, and mistakes you make along the way. Rather than being afraid of that, I am learning to see those moments as opportunities to improve.

Being a trainee can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it is also incredibly rewarding. If my first month is anything to go by, I’m really excited to see what the rest of my time in Litigation has in store.

The information and opinions contained in this blog are for information only.  They are not intended to constitute advice and should not be relied upon or considered as a replacement for advice.  Before acting on any information contained in this blog, please seek a solicitor’s advice from Gilson Gray.