From Sixth Form to the Solicitor’s Office: A Week of Work Experience

Completing work experience this week at Thomas Flavell & Sons has been interesting and insightful experience. 

As a Year 12 student considering law at an undergraduate level, having the opportunity to shadow an experienced solicitor has allowed me to learn how legal procedures are used in practice and helped me gain insight into day-to-day tasks, particularly in the field of contentious probate, an area of law I didn’t know a great deal about but know a lot more about now.  

On my first two days I researched important areas in wills and probate law, such as understanding will validity claims and learning about claims under the catchily-titled Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.   

I learned about the factors that surround will validity claims such as lack of testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval, undue influence, fraudulent calumny and defective execution claims.  Also, how disputes can from time to time erupt between Executors or beneficiaries.  I also came to understand how 1975 Act claims are framed, what class of claimant can make an application and what the factors are which a court would take into account to consider whether there had been a failure to provide reasonable financial assistance.   By the middle of my week, I was reviewing numerous case files covering a wide range of matters including will validity and 1975 Act claims as well as landlord-tenant disputes.  I assisted drafting an application for a bailiff appointment following a possession order.  By reviewing party/party correspondence as well as statements of case, position statements and attendances notes, I was able to see how claims are framed and how negotiations take place to allow firms to interact to try to get the best outcome for their client.  I was able to sit in or calls with clients and how the firm deals with new enquiries from will validity and 1975 Act claims.  

At the end of the week, I did more research on discretionary will trust - the advantages of making them as well as looking at inheritance laws in other countries (and forced heirship jurisdictions) and how this links to inheritance tax planning.  

I also learned about the processes surrounding settlement agreements when employees leave their employer and the factors are taken into account when negotiating their exit.

Throughout my time I was able to ask all the questions I had about any legal procedure or case files.  It was a really helpful insight to see how a firm deals with the common problems which can arise in the probate world and with settlement agreements, to understand how the parties try and work together to protect their client and at the same time try and find a resolution.

Thank you to everyone at TFS for making me feel so welcome.