Now that I am two months into my traineeship, and by way of introducing myself to Twitter and to blogging, I have decided to write my first blog on the experience of being a trainee in the Thompsons Road Traffic team.
It has certainly been a thrilling and busy introduction to life as a trainee solicitor. Over the course of the last two months, I have attended various meetings, including with police officers to take statements and with Advocates in Scotland’s supreme court, the Court of Session. I therefore feel like my experience is being attained at the epicentre of this country’s legal world and it’s only just begun! In addition, I have had many other interesting tasks such as drafting papers, taking instructions from clients and taking a variety of statements, from witnesses about circumstances to those from family members who have provided care and assistance to our clients who have fallen victim to injury.
Although somewhat clichéd, I feel every day is certainly very different here at Thompsons! (I am even presently squeezing in typing this blog during my lunch hour as it’s pretty much non-stop here all day!). The days pass so quickly, I’m learning so much about being a lawyer and I certainly don’t have any time to watch the clock!
For me, having spent three summers during my time at University working with the firm’s team who initially speak to new clients, the most exciting part of joining Thompsons full time has been the chance to see cases through from start to finish, from the initial discussion to case conclusion & a satisfied client!
Being in the office in the centre of Edinburgh and taking trips to court means that the Edinburgh Festival is completely unavoidable at the moment. Having looked through the guide to the festival, a show named Stan caught my attention with the description “Hell is an office and the Devil wants out. In order to get a job transfer he needs to find a suitable replacement: cue Georgina, young aspiring lawyer with a thirst for power. Macabre insight into the modern world”. It sounds like an interesting show, but I’m fortunately able to say that, although like many trainees I may be young and aspirational, Thompsons is definitely not Hell and the Devil certainly hasn’t recruited me!
Thompsons is a truly unique firm – the people are always very friendly and approachable, with a welcoming atmosphere throughout. I would thoroughly recommend Thompsons to all students interested in pursuing a career in personal injury litigation. Personal Injury law in Scotland is about to go through some hugely significant and radical changes, so it is certainly going to be an area of law that will feature prominently in the legal news over the course of the next few months. If you’re a student out there and think this applies to you, keep an eye on our Twitter account for all the latest news in this exciting (and soon to be changing) area of law!
