Law School Lied: 5 Realities of Working at a Firm After University

I can vividly remember that day in June I got the offer to join Thomas Flavell & Sons for a placement year. Following an application and two interviews, I received the long-awaited “Congratulations” email that meant I could join the firm for a yearlong internship between my second and third year of university.

From that moment, I felt like I had a clear idea as to what to expect – after all, I had done work experience in a few places and assumed that law school equipped me with the legal knowledge and analysis needed to thrive. However, the true reality of working in practice showed me that the lectures and tedious textbooks are not at all reflective of what occurs in a firm. 

Here are five things I’ve learnt over the duration of my time at Thomas Flavell: 

At university, legal concepts are taught at their most complex. With every principle there are a dozen exceptions and debates, trick questions and case studies that challenge you academically. 

The work is far more streamlined and focused on procedure and manageable steps. This is particularly true with conveyancing. Case management systems, such as Actionstep and InfoTrack help break down the process of buying and selling property into a structured, step-by-step journey. Each stage has a clear purpose, with prompts and workflows that guide you through what needs to be done next.

Of course, this is not to say that legal work is easy in practice compared to theory. An eye for detail and specialised knowledge is still fundamental in any role, however, the move away from precedents and Latin phrases helps the sector to be more accessible. Rather than constantly debating what the law could be, you are applying what it is in a way that actually helps people move forward with their lives.

Universities will often attempt to simulate the client-facing side of law by introducing case studies and problem questions, featuring exaggerated characters in unlikely scenarios. However, at their core, these questions are hypothetical and lack the emotional depth that real-life situations bring.

In practice, clients will come to you with a myriad of emotions, ranging from gratitude to extreme stress. Whilst you may have the critical skillset to give someone the right advice, it is futile without the ability to diffuse a situation.

By working on the reception desk at TFS, I have had the opportunity to develop this skill first-hand. Whether it’s showing empathy to someone going through a difficult time or calmly handling a frustrated client, these interactions require patience and emotional intelligence. After all, no one generally enjoys visiting a solicitor’s office, and so, working at a firm forces you to develop your emotional bandwidth in a way that law school simply cannot replicate.

An underrated skill in the office is one of etiquette and professionalism. At university, you are not explicitly taught how to write a client-ready email, nor are you shown how to properly address formal correspondence. These types of skills are learnt socially, through exposure and receptiveness. For example, when emailing colleagues and supervisors, you must be concise yet polite and formal.

Other soft skills that fall under this category include time management and clear communication. There will be many instances where you may find yourself balancing several tasks for different people or departments. In these instances, it is important to adequately communicate and understand your own capacity.

Communication is also important when conversing with clients. Misunderstandings can often lead to delays and frustration, and so, this can be mitigated by being open and transparent with clients and handling their queries with patience. Again, this is not something you can learn from school, but something that comes with practice.

One of the most surprising aspects of working in a firm is how quickly you are entrusted with responsibility. At university, the stakes often feel relatively low, if you make a mistake in an assignment or mess up on an exam, the consequences are limited to yourself in the form of a bad grade or negative feedback.

In practice, however, your work has real implications as you are contributing to matters that affect real people. Even as an intern, there are many instances where I feel a key sense of responsibility; like when taking payments of large amounts or updating clients on their file. 

Initially, this can feel frightening, especially when you are inexperienced. It is important to note that whilst fearing mistakes are normal, they are inevitable and you are not expected to know everything. Something that I’ve had to learn is that asking questions is not a sign of incompetence, but rather, a sign of due diligence.

Another thing that surprised me most about working in the legal sector is the sheer amount of people without a law degree or even a degree at all. In fact, the legal profession is far more diverse in terms of entry routes than I had initially assumed.

There are many avenues into the legal sector that are hardly advertised. At TFS, for example, there are staff members who have completed apprenticeships or qualified through the CILEX route. These pathways allow individuals to gain practical experience whilst studying and are a more cost-effective and hands-on way to get access into the profession. 

Whilst I don’t regret studying for a law degree, it would have been useful to understand these alternative pathways earlier on. Law school often presents itself as the primary route into a successful legal career, when it is just one of many options. Understanding this earlier could have provided a broader perspective on what a career in law can look like. 

Working at Thomas Flavell & Sons has reshaped my understanding of what it means to pursue a career in law. Whilst university provided a strong academic foundation, it is the day-to-day realities of practice that have truly developed my skills and perspective.

Despite my hyperbolic title, I don’t believe that law school necessarily lied, but it fails to encapsulate the realities of working after university. The truth is that, like most office jobs, experience is the only real teacher.