Hodge Jones & Allen

 

 

Alex Hulbert is currently in his third training seat in the Hodge Jones & Allen Private client team. 

 

 

 

8.50am I arrive at Euston Station and begin the short walk to the office, ready for the day ahead.

 

9.00am Although we don’t officially start work until 9.30am, getting in at 9.00am gives me a chance to have a coffee, talk to my colleagues and make sure that all my admin from the day before is complete. All of our time is recorded within our case management system and if you have been out of the office the previous day then this is a good chance to catch up.

 

9.15am Before I begin my work I have a catch up with my supervisor with whom I share an office. This ranges from some light hearted discussion about current affairs to a more serious discussion about several upcoming hearings on various files on which I have been assisting with. I am promised that a substantial amount of the preparation will find its way to me shortly (under my supervisor’s close guidance).

 

9.30am A feature of the training structure at HJA which I have been particularly impressed by is that you are actively encouraged, where possible, to run your own caseload as well as assisting on your supervisor’s more complex files. If a new client enquiry comes in which you are particularly interested by then you can discuss this with your supervisor and, if appropriate, take it on yourself under their supervision. At the moment I have about eight files in my own name and I have various day to day tasks to attend to on all of them. I begin about my business of making phone calls to these clients for instructions and drafting letters to be checked.

 

11.30am It’s the last Thursday of the month so I leave my desk to attend the monthly employee forum. A representative from every department, plus a representative from the trainees (currently me) and sometimes from the firm’s marketing and site management departments all meet in one of our larger meeting rooms to discuss important developments in the firm. The meeting is led by one of the firm’s equity partners and our HR manager and is an open venue for people to raise questions, make requests and voice opinions. It is an excellent environment to make sure that everybody in the firm gets a say and is appraised of important developments within HJA as a business.

 

1.00pm In more clement weather I might enjoy my lunch in nearby Regents Park but, since it’s raining, today calls for a sandwich at my desk. One of the firm’s paralegals comes in to ask me if I can make a ‘without-notice’ application for her that afternoon before the District Judge of the day at the Principal Registry of the Family Division. One of her clients has had his son discharged from hospital into his care and must make an emergency application for in interim residence order. I read the file and set about drafting the application and a short draft order. My supervisor casts his eye over my drafts and we discuss some improvements. A few words of encouragement and I’m on my way with the client and his young son in tow.

 

2.15pm Application lodged and fee paid, I sign in and we take our place in the queue. While we wait I talk about the case with the client and explain to him what will happen when we are called in; we don’t have to wait for long…

 

2.50pm After a quick and thankfully successful application I travel back to the office with the client. I call down my colleague and we discuss the positive outcome before I return to my office to dictate a detailed attendance note.

 

5.45pm There will be no working late tonight as HJA are hosting a seminar with a well known set of barristers in the firm’s own private, fully licensed bar. There are four speakers giving updates on private and public children law, all enjoyed over a wealth of tasty canapés and drinks.

 

9.00pm Having thoroughly enjoyed the seminar I head home reflecting on my day. It’s reasonable to say that not all days are this busy, and indeed my working hours are generally more than fair. As I sit on the train I feel satisfied that I was allowed, and indeed actively encouraged, to take on genuine responsibility for one of the firm’s clients and relax in the knowledge that, for now at least, tomorrow promises to be a quieter day.

 

Alex Hulbert

Trainee Solicitor