Trainee Solicitor

Wolferstans Solicitors; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Wolferstans in Plymouth offers a structured training role designed to develop practical legal skills across a broad range of matters. Working under supervision, you will gain hands-on experience, observe experienced lawyers, and build professional judgement to qualify as a solicitor.

You will contribute to client interviews, research, drafting, and communications, while developing commercial awareness and empathy in client care within a supportive, collaborative team.

Qualifications

• Assist with client interviews and gathering information.
• Conduct legal research and assess problems to advise clients.
• Draft correspondence and documents under supervision.
• Communicate clearly with clients and team members.
• Maintain training and development log.

Responsibilities

• Conduct client interviews.
• Assess legal problems and advise clients.
• Conduct legal research and gather evidence.
• Prepare strategy for client case.
• Prepare correspondence and replies to enquiries.
• Draft and negotiate documents.

Skills

Client interviews

Legal research

Drafting

Communication

Job description

Role Purpose

To support lawyers with their caseload, developing legal knowledge, understanding, and confidence through hands on experience across a broad range of legal matters. Working alongside trusted legal experts, you will gain practical insight into legal practice, build essential professional skills, and develop the competencies required to grow both personally and professionally throughout your training.

To provide an exceptional legal experience for our clients while developing the technical expertise, commercial awareness, and professional judgement necessary to qualify and practise as a solicitor. Through exposure to a supportive and collaborative environment, you will be encouraged to take ownership of your development, broaden your experience, and build a strong foundation for a successful legal career.

Primary Responsibilities

Under supervision of an experienced lawyer and dependant on seat rotation, primary responsibilities are as follows:-

Legal Advice and Knowledge

• Conduct client interviews.
• Assess legal problems and advise clients.
• Conduct legal research and gather evidence.
• Obtain information from relevant experts.
• Prepare strategy for client case.
• Prepare correspondence and replies to enquiries.
• Make applications and draft/negotiate documents.

Client Care

• Provide exceptional legal experience to our clients through tailoring correspondence to client needs considering their personal circumstances and any particular vulnerability.
• Identifying and taking reasonable steps to meet the service needs of all clients.
• Identifying possible courses of action and their consequences and assisting clients in reaching a decision.
• Managing clients’ expectations regarding options, the range of possible outcomes, risk and timescales.

Communication

• Draft letters and internal notes using the most appropriate method and style of communication for the situation and recipient.
• Reporting to clients and other via telephone or in attendance at in person meeting.
• Use clear, succinct and accurate language avoiding unnecessary technical terms.
• Imparting any difficult or unwelcome news clearly and sensitively.
• Maintaining empathy and confidentiality throughout.

Team Work

• Communicate and work effectively with team members.
• Understanding of individual skillset, delegating tasks when appropriate.
• Acknowledging and engaging with others’ expertise when appropriate
• Keeping colleagues informed of progress of work, including any risks or problems.
• Being clear about expectations.

Personal Development

• Maintain training and development log addressing continued self-appraisal.
• Continue to develop and progress with legal career addressing technical and legal skills including:-
  • Interviewing and advising
  • Legal research
  • Negotiation
  • Drafting
  • Advocacy
  • Maintain training and development log addressing continued self-appraisal.