Day In The Life Of An Apprentice Solicitor

I have been in my role as an apprentice solicitor for over a year now and wanted to share what a typical day might look like for me.

As a bit of context about myself, before beginning my apprenticeship, I worked as a paralegal within the family department here at Hopkins. I worked predominantly in the care department, but also assisted with private law children matters and domestic abuse work, and this has remained the same now that I am an apprentice.

As an apprentice, my diary changes on a day-to-day basis, splitting my time between the office, representing clients in court as well as sitting behind barristers, which I find really insightful.  I also get the opportunity to work from home! One day out of each week I also block out my diary as my protected study day so I can further continue with my apprenticeship. Hopkins has been very flexible and accommodating with my working schedule which is something that I have found very helpful and value greatly.

Morning

Usually, If I am not at court or have commitments away from the office, I arrive at the office between 8.30 am and 8.45 am. I will sometimes have breakfast at work if I have been to the gym in the morning or if not, I will take the time to prepare for the day ahead and catch up with my colleagues.

I prioritise the first part of my morning to check through my emails, check if there are any urgent matters to handle and make a plan of the tasks I need to complete throughout the day. The case management system we use provides a function which allows us to review all our open cases. This is really helpful as it allows me to prioritise urgent tasks and track completion.

Once I have a structured plan set out for the day, I then focus my attention on my work. My work varies on a daily basis, but in general, you will see me meeting with clients to take instructions, drafting advice letters and statements,  as well as preparing court and legal aid applications, amongst many others.

Within my role, I am responsible for the day-to-day running of my own caseload, although I work closely with a supervisor and communicate with them every day, going over anything I am unsure about or require assistance with.

Afternoon

Generally, I have my lunch hour between 1 pm and 2 pm, although this very much depends on how busy my diary is for the day and if any work needs to be completed urgently. Sometimes I will have to work over my lunch break, but I try to make sure I take a break away from my desk every day to stay motivated and avoid burnout!

In the afternoon, I continue with my tasks and review what I need to do the following day. In the care department, my diary can change very quickly depending on what happens with my cases. It is important that I am prepared to attend court hearings or meetings on short notice or assist a colleague if they are required to attend an urgent matter. It is a very fast-paced area of law, but this is something that I thoroughly enjoy. I try to stay ahead with my workload as much as possible just in case something unexpected occurs.

End of the day

I usually try to make sure that any work I have started is finished before I head home. This is my personal preference, and I would rather finish a task before leaving than pick it back up the next morning.

In the lead-up to my SQE and FLK exams, I would spend my evenings revising and reviewing my course notes to prepare as much as possible. I started my SQE Apprenticeship in August 2023 and sat my SQE 1 exams in January 2024, passing both my FLK1 and FLK2 exams the first time. I am now working on my portfolio and preparing for my SQE 2 exams!

I feel very fortunate to work at Hopkins Solicitors as my colleagues are all very skilled individuals who are always willing to help out or to talk through and support any problems I may have. I feel that I am well on my way to qualifying as a solicitor and gathering the skills and experience needed to continue a successful career in law.