Day In The Life Of An Apprentice: Simmons & Simmons LLP

Hi everyone! I’m Nawal, a first-year solicitor apprentice at Simmons & Simmons, currently sitting in General Counsel. 

Simmons & Simmons LLP is an international law firm that provides innovative and effective solutions to complex and intricate challenges in a smarter and more efficient manner. 

The company focuses on six regulated sectors, Financial institutions, Healthcare and Life sciences, Technology, Media and Telecommunication, Asset management and Investment funds, providing specialist expertise.

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Today, I’ll be walking you through a typical day in my life, although each day is unique.

9:00

I like to arrive early as it gives me time to catch up on work and avoid any rush-hour traffic.

9:10

Usually, I’ll spend a few minutes chatting to everyone before the day officially begins.

9:20

Once we’ve finished socialising, I’ll read articles from ‘The Lawyer’ (which are delivered straight to my inbox) so I can stay updated on current world events.

9:30

My day has officially begun. First thing on the agenda is to check my inbox and team messages and note down anything I need. 

Normally, I work with the Anti-Money Laundering team. I’ve also had experience in Client Due Diligence, where I evaluate cases before reviewing them with my supervisor. 

This week, however, I’ve been tasked with assisting the Conflicts team, as I’ll be moving over to their department in a few months.

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9:40

I usually read through some Anti-Money Laundering articles about PEP’s (Politically Exposed People) and beneficial ownership structures.

It’s important for me to understand them when evaluating cases as I know they’ll come handy once I’ve moved back to the Anti-Money Laundering team.

10:10

Around this time, I’d assist the Conflicts team by uploading crucial information to the appropriate system. I work on my assignments, keeping in mind the tight deadline.

11:30

Come 11:30 am – I’m still on the same task I was an hour ago, except now I’d take a short break to recharge. Maybe grab a snack or two.

12:30

Lunch time! I spend my break in our canteen and hang out with other apprentices. We catch up on what we’ve been up to as we all work in different departments.

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14:00

During our monthly catch up with my mentor, we look at my progress and focus on upcoming goals. It’s important to have check-ins with a mentor or a trusted person to ensure you’re on the right track, both in your professional life and your personal one. 

One topic we discussed, for example, was Ramadan and how I would navigate fasting and working full-time.

15:00

It’s crunch time. I try to get through as many cases as I can to familiarise myself with our clients.

18:00

My working day is meant to finish at 17:30, but today the BPP Legal Apprentice Society is hosting a legal apprentice networking event for all legal apprentices. So my fellow apprentices and I are heading to Stephenson Harwood for the evening.  

19:30

I had a great time catching up with friends, meeting lots of new apprentices and comparing experiences. Finally, it’s time to go home and get some rest, ready for tomorrow!

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