A Day in the Life……
Trainee Solicitor in Conveyancing
Morning
9.00 am: I check which completions I have today and distribute them between myself and my secretary.
9.20 am: As a Trainee Solicitor I have been assisting my supervisor, Christine Blenkinsop, in acting for the seller of a leasehold property. It has proved to be a complicated transaction involving a number of elements that I haven’t come across before.
10.00 am: I have received a new instruction involving the first registration of four parcels of land. The law around unregistered land is very different from that of registered land. I make notes and plan how to move the matter forward.
10.30 am: I get an email from a solicitor responding to pre-contract enquiries I raised on behalf of a buyer client. It is another leasehold property and many of the enquiries are to do with the management of the property. My client is particularly concerned with the property management aspects of the transaction. Our enquiries check whether the landlord complies with its obligations contained in the lease. These include carrying out repairs to communal areas and other day-to-day management tasks. I review the responses.
Lunchtime
12.45 pm: I head home to take my dog out for a walk and grab a quick bite for lunch. I am fortunate to live nearby.
Afternoon
2.00 pm: I recently prepared a report on title for a client purchasing a property. I receive a call from the client who wishes to ask some questions regarding the report. After answering several queries, I make a note of those which I may need refer to Christine. As a Trainee Solicitor I am constantly learning and so I ensure that I make a note of our conversation.
2.45 pm: A client of mine drops into the Office regarding a letter they have received in the post. They are selling their property and the buyer’s solicitor has raised some enquires. They ask if I am available to query a few of the points raised. I take the client through the enquires and clarify things where necessary.
3.30 pm: Christine asks me to carry out some research into chancel repair liability relating to leasehold property. Land which was previously owned by a monastery or abbey is sometimes affected by chancel repair liability. In certain instances, landowners may be liable to pay for the repair of the chancel of the parish church. This can prove to be a heavy financial burden. When reporting to a client, we confirm if any such liability may exist and advise on these risks. I carry out the research and send my supervisor my findings.
4.45 pm: I ensure I’ve returned any calls from the day.
5.10 pm: I use this time at the end of the day to make sure any unmatched post is matched and the files I do have to work on the following day are out and in an order of priority; the more urgent work to be worked on first the following day.
