My work experience at Harrowells Solicitors

Day two

On my second day I read through two contrasting court bundles. Firstly, a bundle for a fact-finding hearing entailing child arrangements and domestic abuse. This led me to research further and has given me a wider scope of knowledge about the terminology used in the family court.

The second bundle was a final hearing of a closed case regarding child arrangements after relocation, detailing the role CAFCASS and OFSTED have in child proceedings.

Day three

On day three I moved over to the personal injury department. Richard Wood, who is the head of the department and also a partner at Harrowells, introduced me to the types of cases the team specialise in, how clients are charged and the key concepts necessary for a successful claim.

I was asked to draft a skeleton argument in relation to the non-recoverable element of the ATE premium following an infant approval hearing.

After this, I spent some time with John Coulson, who is a very experienced PI solicitor, partner at Harrowells and also a part time Judge! We talked through the vast scope of career paths available within personal injury law. We spoke about my ability to demonstrate new knowledge in PI, my technique and my communicational skills. All of which are important attributes to develop before applying for training contracts.

Day four

On my final day I read through a very large live case file! I was asked to identify which records in the file supported the client’s case and which undermined the client’s case to determine the prospect of success.

One of the most helpful parts of my time here was Richard’s feedback on my work. As a student who is grasping as much experience as possible, hearing feedback is crucial.

What I learnt

It’s been extremely valuable to have the opportunity to speak to lots of people at various stages of their law career and work in different areas of law. Before this experience, I had very little knowledge about personal injury law and what it entails. Spending time with the family department has also allowed me to discover an area of law which really inspires me.

Engaging in conversations, being assigned tasks such as drafting skeleton arguments, drafting letters to clients and questioning the prospect of success in cases has given me a greater understanding and a passion for civil litigation.

Undertaking work on real cases and hearing from real clients also provided me with an invaluable insight into what it might be like to work as a solicitor.

I found it very helpful to discuss career journeys with younger members of the team. Trainee solicitor Lucy and I talked over career options on the commute home, and she gave me some useful information about opportunities and life at Harrowells, such as training contracts, progression of roles, hybrid working and regular Harrowells social events.

Solicitor, Rebecca, told me about her journey into working at Harrowells and the supportive network of people she works with in the family department.

I had a very positive chat with Aimee, who is a personal injury solicitor, about her favourite part of the work she does, which is building relationships with clients and being able to see their case to a successful conclusion.

Harrowells is evidently a great place to work. The St Saviourgate office in York city centre has a fast-paced and friendly environment, which has taught me how a law office runs. The team are supportive, approachable and helpful and I’d like to say a special thank you to all the Harrowells people who spent time with me.

After my masters degree I’ll be looking for a 2 year training contract with a law firm. I’ve always been interested in family law, and my passion for this area grew during my work experience. 

Thanks to everyone at Harrowells, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with both teams.

Placements and practical experience provide valuable insights for law students. We always seek a client’s permission prior to involving a student in an aspect of their case.