Learning At Work Week – Isabelle Cartwright ‘Working In A Law Firm’
As part of ‘Learning At Work Week’, we have asked members of our team what learning at Timms is like. Today we speak to Wills & Probate Administration Assistant Izzy Cartwright…
Like many new graduates fresh out of university, going out into the real working world is very daunting and it can seem impossible to get a foot in the door. According to UCAS course data, Law is the third most popular course for university students in the UK. As such, legal experience is hard to come by and I am delighted to gain experience working at Timms Solicitors.
Working In A Law Firm
Although the preconceived notion I had of what working in a law firm would be like has faded over time (despite it being mere months ago), I remember thinking it would be very fast paced, demanding, highly stressful and exhaustingly pressuring. Nevertheless, I was ready for the challenge albeit a little apprehensive as to what I had in store. After all, a negative first impression and experience could have scarred me from doing anything law-related ever again (not to be too dramatic!).
Fortunately, my experience so far has been nothing but positive.
I would say the amount I have learnt working alongside talented legal professionals and the various staff in the firm can almost equate to the three years I learnt at university (of course in an undeniably different way). Any sort of lesson learned, good or bad, has been key to my development as a young legal professional. No doubt many of the issues, concerns and questions encountered now will be similar to the ones that will crop up in the future, at which point I would like to think I am vastly more prepared and equipped than I would have been, having had no experience.
Working At Timms
Timms Solicitors has been a wonderful place to start my journey. Before I was unsure of what sort of firm would suit me, perhaps leaning more towards working in a national or bigger firm if anything. Yet working at Timms has convinced me otherwise. Timms is the pinnacle of what a law firm ought to be – fundamentally, by the display of care and consideration they show towards their clients. They have a loyal client base who repeatedly come back, using the services of the many sectors of the firm, knowing they will receive the service they so desire. Being treated as a statistic is far from Timm’s manifesto when it comes to customer service.
Not only the clients, but the staff are treated personably and with respect. Working in a law firm entails much more of a collective effort than I realised and, as someone who thrives when working with others, it is fortunate that Timms has the same mentality. At Timms, helping one another through tricky situations is common-place and being supportive and reassuring towards each other is instinctive.
Moreover, Timms abides by one of the most important attributes I look for in a firm; a good work to life balance. This can be hard to come by as far as law firms are concerned but Timms expectantly fulfils that role. As a result, I can come into work feeling refreshed and motivated and it works as an incentive for me to try the hardest in the hours I am working.
Working In Wills and Probate
A niche area I have found myself working within is the Wills and Probate team. This sector of law always seems to make people a little puzzled when I speak of it as an area of personal interest. Perhaps it’s all the death that prompts these sorts of expressions and I can’t blame any layperson for thinking that. On the face of it, saying you are interested and passionate about Wills and Probate does make you seem like a pretty morbid person, but in actual fact I have found all my colleagues in Wills and Probate to be the exact opposite. Some of the most kind-hearted, sincere and vivacious individuals I have met. Certainly, working with many vulnerable individuals means this is the ideal, yet that being a reality is easier said than done.
Similarly, Wills & Probate can also give the impression of being quite boring and lacklustre. Nevertheless, this has not been my experience at all. Though the structure and procedures may be repetitive and familiar, the individuality of each distinctive client shines through in each case. Their estates, requests and requirements range across a very broad spectrum. A personal favourite example of what Wills & Probate can entail would be from a Will-reading scene in the film, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Whilst the estates we deal with on a regular basis are not nearly as extravagant and solicitors aren’t often killed by one the beneficiaries (R.I.P Jeff Goldblum’s character), it does showcase how compelling many aspects of Wills & Probate can be and what the possibilities are.
The Future
My time at Timms has consolidated my desire to become a solicitor and for that I am grateful. Though I will be undertaking a full-time post-graduate master’s degree starting in September, Timms Solicitors will firmly be on the cards of where I hope to pursue my training contract – if they’ll have me! Hereafter, I look promisingly ahead to my future career as a prospective solicitor, with Wills and Probate as a current focus in my working life.
Get In Touch
Should you have any queries regarding Wills and Probate please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can contact me on 01283 561531 or via i.cartwright@timms-law.com. Alternatively visit the Wills and Probate section of our website here.
May 2022