Apprentice Paralegal Review

Day-to-day, I assist solicitors and paralegals in my team with their clients. I work in the Court of Protection team, so we are appointed to manage client's property and financial affairs who lack this requisite capacity. In order to do this effectively, we must ensure that correct insurance is in place, investment managers are instructed, relevant benefits are claimed and their properties are suitable to meet their needs.

On a daily basis numerous skills of mine are improving. This includes my communication as I am continually learning to adjust the way I speak depending on the recipient. For example, simpler terms are used when speaking with or emailing a client as opposed to speaking with a colleague. My attention to detail has improved as I need to check insurance policies, Court Orders and other things to ensure our client's best interests are met.

I enjoy my programme with Irwin Mitchell very much. Each day is different, so I never get bored and my team are very friendly and easy to get along with, as are other people in my office. The office and my team hold regular social event which are fun and help build relationships. Due to the type of work, I am sometimes stressed, but my team are good at helping combat this. However, the communication between apprentices, the careers team and the training provider could be improved as sometimes we are left in the dark and are only told things at the last minute.

The programme is organised quite well and the structure makes sense now that I am aware of this. However, it took a while for this to be clarified and this was due to lack of communication between my training provider and my employer. The training provider has also changed the next step for my apprenticeship mid-way through, which caused a panic, but I know more about this now, so I am aware of ways to get around this.

My team at Irwin Mitchell are very supportive and welcoming, I feel happy to speak with them and tell them of any issues or worries of mine. The communication with the early careers team organising the apprenticeship is lacking, but they have new members who have reached out. I would feel comfortable with approaching them though.

My law teacher and designated "learner and trainer assessor" are supportive and I would feel comfortable with approaching them, if need be. Support and communication from other people within the company vary, some are helpful, others not so much. I sometimes have to chase a few times before receiving a required response, but they try to help as much as they can.

When I complete my apprenticeship, I will be a qualified Paralegal. This will increase my confidence when speaking with colleagues, clients and external parties and allow me to take on even more responsibility, such as manage my own clients. This qualification will also enable me to continue with my studies and go on to the level 6 Chartered Legal Executive apprenticeship, after I have obtained the remaining units.

Irwin Mitchell have a very big range of extra-curricular activities. Myself and a colleague are in charge of running the netball team and we are in the summer and winter leagues. We also have various committees such as the environmental committee, which I am also a part of, the charity committee, and committees dedicated to equal rights and diversity within the work place.

Yes

Irwin Mitchell is a welcoming, friendly place to work where you are able to progress, if you want to, or you can stay as you are without any pressure. There are so many extra things to get involved in which are not too time-consuming, but is very rewarding. The type of work can also be very rewarding too.

You don't necessarily need to know what you want to do, working in a specific team will help you figure that out. I am working in a department that I had never even heard of before, but I thoroughly enjoy it. If you don't enjoy the department you're in, there are chances to move around.