Name: James Bradley
Degree studied and University studied at:
I read law at Newcastle University, graduating in 2007 with a 2:1. Having taken a gap year, I then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in July 2009, obtaining a Commendation.
Why did you decide on a career in law?
When choosing my A-level subjects I was fortunate enough to be given the option to study law at AS-Level. I not only found the content of the course to be extremely interesting but was also managing to attain high grades. I was always looking for a challenging career in a respected profession and felt that a career in law was ideal. I knew that as an ambitious person, a career in the legal profession would be a daily challenge and give me plenty of variety.
What made you choose Langleys?
I chose to work for Langleys for a variety of reasons.
I was attracted to the fact that Langleys recruits a relatively low amount of trainees each year. I felt that this would enable me to gain closer supervision whilst having exposure to certain areas that I would not necessarily experience in a larger, national firm.
Having grown up in York, I was able to witness first-hand the enviable reputation that Langleys has managed to accrue. The fact that Langleys is consistently ranked highly in the Legal 500 and its lawyers are always ranked highly in the Chambers & Partners directory made Langleys even more appealing.
Before I commenced my training contract I did not have a preferred area of law that I wished to specialise in. Instead, I wanted to start my training contract with an open mind. I felt that by choosing a full service law firm like Langleys I would be exposed to different areas and I would be able to make an informed choice as to where I wanted to qualify.
Details of your training contract:
I started my training contract in the Employment department which was an area of law that I was not familiar with. I was involved in a mixture of contentious and non-contentious work and thoroughly enjoyed my time in the department. The Employment department at Langleys primarily acts for Respondent’s and it was my first litigation experience. I was immediately given contact with clients, gained valuable drafting skills and attended Tribunal.
I also enjoyed the mix of non-contentious work in my Employment seat. I was asked to draft and review Compromise Agreements, draft company handbooks, draft and review maternity policies, review sickness and absence procedures, prepare articles on developments in Employment law and prepare seminar presentations. I was even asked to test my acting skills in the Employment Mock Tribunal!
My second seat is in the Insurance Law department which is an area of law which I particularly wanted to experience. The Insurance department at Langleys represents a number of large, national insurance companies, loss adjusters and local authorities, which has meant that I have been able to assist fee earners in a number of high value claims.
My seat in Insurance has been different to Employment as I have received work from a number of different fee-earners at differing levels of seniority. This has given me exposure to a variety of work which has ensured that no two days are similar! It has, however, confirmed to me that it is essential to be highly organised and is imperative to manage people’s expectations. As an Insurance law trainee I have been involved in the preparation of applications to Court, the drafting and taking witness statements, preparing case strategy plans, advising clients, preparing client reports, preparing CRU appeals, drafting instructions to counsel, instructing medical experts, instructing engineering experts, attending court, attending joint settlement meetings, attending mediations, conducting a case management conference, researching specific points of law, drafting articles and I have even managed to sit behind Counsel at the Court of Appeal.
What do you like about working at Langleys?
I have enjoyed the responsibility that I have been given as a trainee at Langleys. Although, I receive close supervision, I have been entrusted with responsibility to use my initiative and have been made to feel an integral part of the team in both of my seats.
Langleys is an extremely friendly yet professional law firm. Langleys operates an open door policy which means that all members of the firm are approachable and can provide direction, something which is extremely useful as a trainee. The firm has a relaxed atmosphere which makes it an enjoyable place to work. I have recently joined the firms’ social committee which has allowed me to get involved in the planning of a number of social events.
Trainee Profile
Name: Adrian Lyon
Degree(s) studied and University studied at:
I graduated from Aberystwyth University in 2008 with an LLB law degree. As I knew that I wanted to practice in law, I moved to Nottingham Law School to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC).
Why did you decide on a career in law?
I was looking for a career where I could experience a wide variety of work. Every client is different, with different aims. It is this variety which attracted me to law, as no two days are ever the same.
What made you choose Langleys?
Langleys appealed to me greatly as a firm.
I wanted to work for a prominent firm with a reputation for excellence, and Langleys certainly offers that. It has the Lexcel accreditation, which sets the firm out as achieving high standards. It also has a very good reputation amongst the regional community, which appealed to me as I want to be proud of the firm I work for.
The major draw was that many of the partners and fee-earners are included in the Legal 500 and the Chambers and Partners directories. This demonstrates that they provide an excellent level of service to clients and, as a trainee, it is an ideal opportunity to receive tutoring from some of the very best in the business.
During the interview process, it was clear that although Langleys is a major regional player, it still retains a friendly, personal atmosphere within the firm.
Details of your training contract:
My first seat was in the Clinical Negligence unit. The work is very varied and every matter is different. I was able to experience a wide range of clients, each with their own issues and their own ambitions. I was involved with drafting court documents including claim forms, witness statements and court directions. I was also involved in instructing Counsel and attending client meetings with Counsel, which gave me an excellent opportunity to witness and learn a variety of techniques. I also assessed the value of claims and assisted in negotiating settlements for clients. One particularly satisfying element of the seat was securing money from the insurers to pay for rehabilitation for those clients in need of treatment.
My second seat is in Private Client, where I am currently working. The department has an enormous variety of work, ranging from writing wills to buying and selling large areas of agricultural land. I have had the opportunity to draft trust deeds, creating trusts for high-value assets. I have also had the opportunity to draft wills and probate papers, and draft Lasting Powers of Attorney. I have also carried out significant work in relation to land, ranging from deducing title of large unregistered fields to dealing with adverse possession claims and right of way disputes. I have been surprised by the range of work carried out in the private client department, which has allowed me to experience a great variety of work.
During my training contract so far, I have had the opportunity to attend and conduct client meetings and provide advice at them. I have drafted a wide range of documents, ranging from claim forms and witness statements to wills and property transfer forms. I have also learned the importance of client communication and how to ensure that an excellent service is delivered.
What do you like about working at Langleys?
Langleys places a very high value on training. The supervisors always have time to talk through your work and help you improve as a solicitor. I have always been treated as a valued and important part of the team at Langleys, which helps make the workplace an enjoyable and productive place to be.
I am constantly given interesting work, and work which is challenging and stimulating. This has allowed me to develop quickly, and to learn and appreciate a wide range of both technical and practical issues.
I also enjoy the community aspect of the firm. As a member of the social committee, I am involved in organising social events, which are always good fun and add to the enjoyment of working for Langleys
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here for more information on the Training Contract.