Day in the life: A student taking part in our Summer Work Experience Placement

This year was Bury & Walkers first year establishing the Summer Work Experience Placement aimed for final year university students with an interest in litigation. Students have been exposed to family law, personal injury, clinical negligence and cont

As an insight into what one of our applicants got up to at Bury & Walkers, they have prepared ‘a day in the life’ summary. We hope this provides insight into what a week of work experience looks like here at Bury & Walkers, and we look forward to receiving many future applicants next year! 

Day 1- Contentious Probate

My experience in the contentious probate department involved attending client interviews, where I observed and actively participated in discussions about disputes over wills, estates, and inheritance.  I had the opportunity to shadow a solicitor during client meetings, which allowed me to observe the nuances of effective client communication.

Before attending any client interview, I would review case files in detail, familiarise myself with the background of the dispute, and identify any legal issues that might need to be addressed. This allowed me to outline objectives for the meeting and think through any potential questions that would help clarify important facts.

I was involved in researching legal concepts such as the Inheritance Act 1975 and severance of joint tenancies, which was important when assessing the division of property or assets in cases which could impact the distribution of an estate.

Day 1 - Employment

In personal injury cases related to employment, I researched unfair dismissal and discrimination at work. I helped identify if clients had a potential claim related to wrongful dismissal or discrimination by reviewing various administrative documents, such as settlement agreements, and employment contracts to ensure their employment rights were upheld.

Day 2 & 4 - Family

On my second day, in the Family department, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in both legal research and client interaction, which were essential components of my learning experience.

I began my day by focusing on researching case law relevant to a public law matter. This helped me understand the importance of precedents in family law and how legal arguments should be tailored to the facts of the case at hand. Later in the day, I participated in a client call alongside a solicitor to discuss the client's witness statement.

I was tasked with filling out a C100 Form, which is required for court applications in family matters. The form required me to input essential information about the parties involved, the nature of the application, and any relevant supporting evidence. I made sure to double-check all entries to ensure accuracy.

By participating in client calls, reviewing witness statements, and assisting in the preparation of legal documents, I gained a comprehensive understanding of both the procedural and emotional aspects of family law practice.

On my fourth day at Bury & Walkers, I was placed with the Public Law Family department and observed proceedings under the Public Law Outline (PLO). I attended a PLO meeting, where I had an insight into how local authorities, solicitors, and clients interact in the pre-proceeding’s stages of a case.

This day also provided significant learning in client handling and professional conduct. I observed how solicitors deal with:

Sensitive clients, particularly those experiencing distress.

Situations where third parties, such as social workers or opposing parties, have an opposing view to our clients. 

Day 3 & 5 – Personal Injury

In the personal injury department, I was involved in a variety of client-facing tasks, where I gained experience assessing the extent of damages and assisted with providing clients with information on how these damages would impact their claims. I also made detailed attendance notes during calls with clients to record their responses accurately and ensure no information was overlooked. I assisted in preparing claim notification forms for clients. In addition to this, I also researched life interests, which could affect both personal injury and probate claims when a deceased's estate was involved.

During my placement at Bury & Walkers Solicitors, I was involved in supporting a personal injury claim arising from a road traffic accident. Using the attendance notes, client emails, and interview transcripts, I drafted a detailed witness statement.

Day 5- Clinical Negligence

During my time in the Clinical Negligence department at Bury & Walkers, I had the opportunity to assist with a claim against an NHS Trust.  I examined the case in line with the core elements of clinical negligence: breach of duty, causation, and damages. I was introduced to the use of the Judicial College Guidelines in quantifying general damages in clinical negligence claims.

In preparing case documents, I looked at the:

Chronology of medical records, helping to piece together the timeline of treatment and symptoms.

Witness statement, which detailed the patient's experience and the ongoing impact of the injury.

Post-incident updates, including medical follow-ups and psychological assessment.

My time at Bury & Walkers was invaluable, interesting and insightful!