A glimpse into the life of a Personal Injury Trainee

While at university, the thought of a traineeship seemed daunting, with no clear idea of what to expect. Now, four months into my fixed-seat traineeship with the Personal Injury and Reparation team, I feel like I have a (somewhat) better understanding.

As a Trainee, no two days are the same. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities. Engaging with clients from varied backgrounds and life experiences keeps my work dynamic and varied.

What is it like being a Personal Injury trainee?

– I manage my own clients and cases. Over time, the number of cases I handle has gradually increased, which has helped me become familiar with the processes involved in case management. Managing my own cases allows me to plan my diary and prioritise my workload. It also enables me to build relationships with my clients by overseeing their cases from start to finish, keeping me motivated to achieve the best results for them.

– Managing my own cases gives me the opportunity to progress claims to litigation. I have initiated both simple procedure and ordinary cause actions. Currently, I am working towards obtaining my restricted practicing certificate, which will allow me to represent clients in ordinary cause actions. This involves observing my colleagues’ cases, either in person or via Webex. This is one of my favourite parts of the job, as I gain first-hand experience of court proceedings whilst seeing how other solicitors structure their submissions.

– In addition to managing my own caseload, I have had the opportunity to work alongside other solicitors on their cases. This includes taking statements, attending consultations with counsel to discuss case details and participating in client meetings. Working alongside experienced solicitors has allowed me to work on high-value and complex cases, thereby broadening my legal knowledge.

This overview highlights some of the tasks a personal injury trainee might encounter. However, the traineeship involves much more, such as PEAT 2, departmental meetings and training sessions.

Having been in my traineeship for four months now, I am steadily finding my feet, thanks to the incredibly supportive team at Harper Macleod. In these few months, I have learned more than I ever anticipated, and I look forward to the knowledge and experiences that lie ahead in the remainder of my traineeship.