Placement Experience: Paralegal at Glovers Solicitors LLP

How did you find your placement role? What support did you get from the  Placement team?

During the summer, after my first year and early on in my second, I booked appointments with the placement office to go through my CV and get a complete understanding of the placement process.

Having someone to give advice on my CV structure, what to include/what not to include, how to stand out to employers and how to link my CV to the various roles I was applying for was extremely helpful. From these one-to-one sessions with the team I gained useful  tips and tools that I can surely use moving forward when applying for graduate roles. 

Even though my official placement was self-sourced (through networking and connections), going through the placement search process in its entirety by; completing application forms, attending interviews, undertaking psychometric tests and experiencing assessment centres has really prepared me for the future and given me a clear insight into what to expect!

How many applications did you do, prior to success? 

I applied for approximately 10 placement roles in total. 

Describe the company you worked for, what it does etc. 

I worked for Glovers Solicitors, a property-focused law firm based in Covent Garden, London. They specialise in Commercial Property and Property Finance, acting for various clients in the restaurant and hospitality sectors including Nando’s, Wagamama and Everyman; as well as banks including Hampshire Trust Bank and Close Brothers. 

Describe your role 

I was part of a six person paralegal team with my official role being an 'Administrative Paralegal'.  My role was to assist the fee earners, trainees and various other support staff with day-to-day tasks within the commercial property and property finance departments. 

As paralegals, we focused primarily on pre and post completion dealings. I completed research projects, conducted pre-completion searches, dealt with requisitions and many other tasks that were integral to the smooth running of the transactions.

What skills did you develop on placement?

My placement role really helped develop the following skills:

• Writing skills - writing reports, submitting application forms and drafting emails/letters daily enabled me to hone in on my proofreading skills, grammar, succinct writing and equipped me with the means to get my points across clearly and effectively. This will surely assist with coursework and other writing activities during my final year and after studies. 
• Confidence - when I started at Glovers, I was too embarrassed to even pick up the phone and speak to colleagues because I lacked confidence in my abilities and knowledge. Fast forward to the last few months at the firm, more experienced paralegals and trainees would turn to me for advice or explanations and many  praised the "accuracy" of my work and keen "attention to detail" which is clear evidence of my growth. I often had to present my research to fee earners, interact with clients, talk confidently and clearly over the phone to HMRC or the Land Registry - this really built my confidence and I believe I can use this to my advantage during my final years, especially at the Legal Clinic where I will be expected to interact with clients regularly. 
• Teamwork - working within a paralegal team reminded me of the importance of active listening, having patience, clear communication and pulling on each other’s strengths to work together effectively to achieve a positive outcome. I hope to approach group work in this same manner during my final year at Portsmouth.

What have been the highlights of your placement year? 

Networking - I was able to meet and connect with experts in the legal field. I could ask as many questions I wanted to and therefore gained valuable insight and advice about a career in law. I also appreciated the fact that everyone in the office came from different backgrounds whether that be in terms of culture or education but we were all connected by a common interest in the law. From this - I made strong friendships with a few of my colleagues and this was definitely a highlight! 

Even though we were working in a professional environment my firm made sure to incorporate fun activities throughout the year to encourage a happy/positive work environment. I was a part of the Christmas party planning committee, took part in a ping pong world cup, went to a cocktail making masterclass and ate a lot of lovely meals!! Being able to incorporate these fun activities really broke down the barriers between all employees in the firm and people were able to connect with others irrespective of their status in the firm. 

Gaining even more independence - Having to commute to work daily, save money, interact with professionals and clients whilst conducting myself in a professional manner really gave me a sense of independence. I was thrown into the working world with no parents or siblings to fight my battles for me. I had to communicate and express myself clearly and be respectful of other people’s views and beliefs. I have always been mature and can handle myself but being on placement forced me to grow up even more and really prepared me for my future in the corporate world!

Being involved in the recruitment process for the next placement students -  As my time at the firm came to an end, myself and the other placement student were tasked with recruiting the next set of students. At first, this was nerve-wracking as we both had very little recruiting experience and felt the pressure of picking the right candidates to fit in with the firm and most importantly with the rest of the paralegal team. However, being part of the recruitment process was an invaluable experience. It allowed me to stand in the recruiters’ shoes and showed me what companies are and are not looking for. It taught me the importance of having a well-tailored CV that is exciting to read with minimal mistakes. This will most definitely be beneficial to me when I start applying for graduate roles in the near future.

What are you going to be working on in the future? 

My plan right now is to take the necessary steps to qualify as a solicitor. I am currently applying for various vacation schemes and training contracts to hopefully commence my training in London in 2026. 

Any advice to second year students when searching for a placement?

My tops tips would be:

1. Start your placement search as early as you can - companies start recruiting as early as September! It’s best to start applying before your coursework deadlines start to creep up as it can be hard to balance coursework prep/submissions with your placement search. Starting early also means that you have a better chance at securing a position early, this eases the pressure off of you as you don’t have to panic/worry when the end of the academic year starts approaching .
2. Be as organised as possible! - Balancing your studies and job applications can be    stressful so it is important to have a systematic process in place. I would recommend creating a spreadsheet that outlines all of the application deadlines, requirements and any company specific recruitment process. Having a localised document really helps with keeping track of your applications and can help reduce any anxious or overwhelming feelings. 
3. Use the placement team to your advantage - applying for jobs can be scary, especially if this is your first time! The placement office is there to guide you through this challenging process. It can be overwhelming, confusing and sometimes you just need a gentle push in the right direction. Do not struggle in silence - there is support in place so be sure to use it if you need to! 
4. Be positive and don’t lose hope - you will probably face a lot of rejection from companies and this can be a tough pill to swallow. Rejection can make you question your talents/ability - but please remember that ‘if it is meant to be, it will be’ you will eventually be accepted to a company that is the right fit for YOU and that will give you the best placement experience. Don’t be disheartened if an application or interview does not go your way, instead use it as a learning tool and see it as a stepping stone to where you are meant to be.

What would you say to any student considering doing a placement? 

I think it's great that they are considering a placement and would really encourage them to follow through!

I truly believe that taking a placement year was the best decision for me. At first, I struggled with the fact that it would add an extra year to my studies and that my course-mates would graduate without me. However, I now know and believe that the placement will benefit me in the long run and that it was definitely worth it. 

Being given the chance to put theory into practice is something that I do not take lightly as finding a placement especially in the legal field can be very difficult. Having never worked at this level before, my placement gave me a taste of the real working world; commuting, saving, professional etiquette…the list goes on. I have left knowing that I was very good at my job and acquired invaluable skills that I hope to carry throughout my professional career. Most importantly, I am grateful for the industry connections I have now gained and the wonderful friendships I made along the way.