Learning Family Law, One Deadline at a Time

Emotional, fast-paced and intellectually demanding – and that is often before the first cup of coffee. This is the nature of life as a Trainee Solicitor in Family Law. The work of a Family Lawyer is diverse and involves a wide mixture of tasks, so there is rarely time to become too comfortable with the to-do list. At this early stage of my career, I have learnt that, while broad principles can be applied to each case, no two cases are ever the same. That is the beauty of it: you never quite know what type of case will land on your desk next…

As a Trainee, I find myself assisting various fee earners on different matters. I find this to be beneficial to my learning and training as I develop a plethora of skills. Namely:

• Flexibility: It is important to remain flexible to assist senior fee earners on the ‘smaller tasks’ that make a client’s case whilst they can focus on the overall strategy of achieving a good outcome for the client. Whilst assisting on the smaller tasks, it is important to remain attentive to the wider picture and what your supervisor is doing as eventually you would play that role.
• Verbal/non-verbal communication: It is important to understand that within Family Law proceedings, we are often dealing with clients who are going through a highly emotional time in their lives. The way we deal with our clients is therefore important in terms of the way we speak to them when advising them. The tone of voice and body language used is important to show that we understand and care about their situation.
• Drafting: As a Family Law trainee, you will draft numerous legal documents which naturally enhances your drafting skills. This includes non-molestation/occupation order applications, consent orders and Form E statements. Once a drafting task has been completed and approved by your supervisor, I find it useful to keep a precedent folder with the different forms and applications for future use.

This is not an exhaustive list of the skills you develop as a Family Law trainee, no two days are the same and you are always developing skills. As part of the SRA requirements, it is important to set some time aside to update and maintain a training record. This helps me reflect on the skills I am developing and learning as tasks are being completed. By completion of your Family Law seat, you will see how your responsibility increased over the 6 months.

As a trainee, my favourite days are the ones where I attend a court hearing to take a note. This is because this is where we see the case play out and how the work we as solicitors have put in to prepare our client’s case pans out in the courtroom. Of course, family law is not about winning however when your client obtains a favourable outcome at court, there is a great sense of satisfaction! As a trainee attending a court hearing, it is also beneficial to sit behind the barrister and take in the expert advice they give to our clients whilst also listening and learning to the legal principles discussed at court with the Judge. It is also valuable to learn how to build a rapport with your client and provide that connecting bridge between them and the barrister.

Overall, the demands are high and the court deadlines can be tight. The work can be unpredictable and the pressure can be high. However, to any aspiring Family Law trainees, I have learned it is best to embrace that pressure (after all Alan Shearer famously once said, pressure is for tyres). There is a lesson to learn behind each task you are given and it is fundamental to develop your understanding of the law and procedure in this area whilst also developing your personal skills. This will be essential when dealing with clients.

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Interested in becoming a Trainee Solicitor?
Our Trainee Programme gives aspiring solicitors the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, work alongside experienced lawyers and develop the skills needed for a successful legal career. Find out more about our successful two year Solicitor Training Programme here.