Have you ever tried getting work experience at a local law firm? If so, you’ll know it’s difficult to find a welcoming and professional place to temporarily hire a young, inexperienced person, such as a student aspiring to get into the law profession. Many young people are looking for work experience within the legal sector, but are struggling to find a place to let them in. Fisher Jones Greenwood offer work experience for young people who need a kick start.
I was lucky enough to get 2 weeks voluntary work experience at FJG Solicitors in the summer of 2019, and benefitted hugely from it. Within my time at the firm I learnt a range of new skills in different areas of law, such as, conveyancing, family, commercial and I even helped out in the marketing department. The selection of areas for me to learn from provided an insight to all the different worlds of law which I was unknown to previously. This helped me sculpt an idea of what area of law I wanted to get into and which course I wanted to take at university.
If you are unsure of your career path in the future and are thinking about pursuing law then I recommend work experience to give you a view on what working in a law firm is really like. This may reassure you into a career of law or make you think about another career if you decide law isn’t for you; which is totally fine as then you are a step closer to finding out what you would like to do.
Fisher Jones Greenwood supplied me with, not only new legal skills, for example looking at files and gaining knowledge of certain legal areas, but also workplace skills, such as typing at a higher speed and sorting post within the office, ensuring the right letters go to the right people.
While not necessary for some, work experience provides some great benefits which can be added to your CV for future employers, exhibiting to them your employability and workplace attributes. For those who would like to gain legal experience, an opportunity can be found by visiting the FJG website (https://www.fjg.co.uk/) which, not only is it full of information on the law and legal blogs, you can find information about careers in law and their work experience application process. The website also contains information about the staff at Fisher Jones Greenwood and their roles and also information about the firm, allowing you to get in some key research to make sure that it is the firm for your work experience.
Fisher Jones Greenwood are open to offers for work experience and ensure that you can take full advantage of what they have to offer. While there, you work with them, not for them – they teach you throughout the different departments and let you do real work; instead of just doing the photocopying or shredding. This mind-set of getting the most out of you while you’re there is a perfect example of why FJG is an excellent firm, taking time out to give you a schedule and a plan for what you will be doing. In addition they offer life skills, providing meetings with the Partners in the company, such as Paula Fowler, one to one time with the Solicitors who work there and hosting mock interviews and helping to write a CV. FJG goes far beyond the expectations of typical work experience which I really benefitted from as I’d never experienced some of these things before, mainly an interview. The help I received hasn’t just set me up for a career in law but also within other aspects of life, for example getting a job, as my CV and interview technique has been reviewed and constructively critiqued; this has allowed me to work on these areas and improve on them.
Overall, for anyone looking for work experience from a legal practice or just for experience of a work place, Fisher Jones Greenwood Solicitors is the place to be. FJG are welcoming, helpful and very informative, they took time out of their busy schedules to make sure that I got all the experience and knowledge I needed for the future. The staff there are very professional yet very approachable and will help with any problems you may face when there. Hopefully you’re ready to apply for some work experience, knowing where to apply and what to expect.
Written by Liam.
If you are interested in work experience at FJG, please contact Su Barker, Training & Knowledge Co-ordinator – [email protected].