Trainee Solicitor Contracts



Rhianne Vaughan - Second Year Trainee

Herrington & Carmichael has provided me with the perfect balance in training: the firm is large enough to be able to offer a very interesting variety of work, but still small enough for trainees to make a real contribution to the firm. As a Herrington & Carmichael trainee you're not just a number or permanently chained to the photocopier!

It has been very hard work but immensely rewarding. I have learnt such a lot in only a short space of time and my training experience has been very positive. The supervision you have whilst training is paramount to gaining the confidence and skills you need as a lawyer and I found all fee earners extremely supportive and willing to help, despite having other demands on their time.

There really is no such thing as a typical day for a trainee. Being a trainee in each department differs. In Commercial Property you will, on most days, spend at least some time drafting or amending documents for a transaction, such as deeds or agreements. In Matrimonial you will be drafting, amongst other things, divorce petitions, financial statements, questionnaires, chronologies and a statement of issues. Matrimonial offers you a lot of hands on experience with clients through meetings, contact on the telephone and representation at court. In Civil Litigation you will be drafting particulars of claim, witness statements, list of documents and you will be attending court regularly with colleagues and counsel. It's not just attendance at the local County Court; quite often you will be travelling up to London to attend to a client matter at the High Court.

Moving around different departments is a challenge. Just as you start to understand what you are doing and get quick enough to be of some use to your supervisor you are moved to a different department where, once again, everything is new and you have to learn all about the new department and this whole new practice area. The end of the seat is always a busy time for trainees. It is at this stage when you start to realise just how much you have learnt in the short space of time that you have been working in the department.

The training is pretty comprehensive; I have been encouraged to partipate in networking events, help with preparing seminars and even write articles for client newsletters and updates.