What our Trainees say
Here you will find a snapshot of quotes from our past and present Trainees as they have progressed through their training contracts with the firm.
Kathryn O'Reilly (2010 - 2012)
First & Second Seat – Travel, Tourism & Insurance – Feb 2011
"I have spent my first seat in the Travel, Tourism & Insurance Team. I found this seat to be very enjoyable due to the diversity of the work undertaken and also because of the friendly, approachable atmosphere within the department.
Travel & Tourism PI is a niche area of law but I experienced a variety of complex cases ranging from road traffic accidents, to skiing & boating accidents. I particularly enjoyed the international aspect of the work as I had to liaise with lawyers and agents from other countries. This also gave me an opportunity to develop my language skills.
I was given responsibility from an early stage and I assisted most of the fee earners in the department. The type of work I did was drafting letters of action, liability & quantum reports, instructions to Counsel and assessing special damages. I also had the opportunity to develop my legal research and client care skills as I updated clients and insurers of the progress of their case.
I have found this seat to be very rewarding and I have developed very useful skills that will benefit me for the rest of my legal career".
Third Seat - Employment - March 2011
"I have spent an extended seat in the Employment Department (March 2011 – January 2012). I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this department as I was exposed to contentious and non-contentious law. I was provided with a great deal of responsibility early on as I was responsible, under supervision, for managing my own caseload and I assisted with the BOLDER scheme throughout which employers have access to on a 24 hour helpline for employment law advice.
Throughout my time in this department I undertook claimant, respondent and insurance work, assisted individuals with grievances and disciplinary matters and I ran Tribunal claims from initial instructions to settlement and hearing. I managed to achieve high value settlements for numerous clients and developed my advocacy skills through conducting Case Management Discussions. I was responsible for assessing claims both for insurers, individuals and employers and I also had the opportunity to attend Tribunal hearings and to brief and attend conferences with counsel. I conducted client meetings and helped prepare and deliver quarterly employment law presentations to employers and HR professionals.
Given the short life span of Tribunal claims and the fact that the employment department is very busy I developed my time management skills. I liked having the opportunity to develop a working relationship with clients and having drafted articles for the website and undertaking other marketing tasks I felt that I was fully emerged in the team, who were very welcoming. I liked how employment law combines commercial and people focused areas".
Saira Malik (2010 - 2012)
First Seat – Employment – February 2011
"I have spent my first seat with the Employment team. I have found this seat to be very interesting and rewarding, particularly as I have gained experience in both claimant and respondent work. The team has been extremely supportive and approachable, making the experience all the more enjoyable.
I have had the opportunity to undertake a mix of contentious and non-contentious work for both private and commercial clients. Consequently there have been many opportunities for me to develop as well as extend my legal knowledge"
Second Seat – Development Land & Planning – August 2011
I have spent my second seat with the Development Land & Planning team. I have found this seat to be thoroughly enjoyable, gaining experience in overlapping areas – planning, rural and agricultural land, and plot sales.
I have found the team to be friendly and very supportive towards my training experience, resulting in a comprehensive and varied workload.
I have had the opportunity to draft, review and negotiate documents including planning and highways agreements (section 106, 38 and 278), objections to planning applications, change of use, option agreements, agricultural tenancies, as well as preparing documents relating to sale of properties on new developments.
Sam Reid (2009-2011)
First Seat - Travel, Tourism and Insurance - March 2010
"I was given a great deal of responsibility and autonomy from a very early stage and I found that the extensive client contact in the seat provided an extremely useful platform to learn what the clients want from their advisor, to build rapport with clients and to help them in what are often quite horrendous circumstances. I found the cross-jurisdictional nature of the seat enjoyable, and was particularly interested in deciphering the complex issues surrounding subrogated recoveries connected to many of the claims the team undertakes. II found the PI Travel team to be close, energetic and dedicated to the work it carries out. The level at which the team works is truly inspirational."
Third Seat – Private Client - March 2011
"I found the Private Client seat to be an extremely varied and interesting area in which to work. I had the opportunity to undertake tasks such as liaising with stockbrokers to arrange the sale of stock, researching the application of 200 year old equitable legal principles and conducting genealogical research to locate the heirs of an intestate estate. I was also able to extract Grants of Probate and conduct the administration of estates through to completion, which was extremely rewarding. I have found the Private Client team to be friendly and supportive and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the department".
Fourth Seat – Residential Property - April 2011
During my time in residential property, I was involved in reconstructing the title to a property where the deeds had been mislaid (by a large bank); dividing up a farm and selling the parts to three different buyers; obtaining an overage agreement from an electricity company for electricity pylons to pass over agricultural land and multiple residential sales and purchases.”
Sam qualified in September 2011 and is now a Solicitor in our Development Land and Planning Team.
Tom Sampford (2008-2010)
First Seat - PI Travel - February 2009
"During my time in Travel PI I have had the opportunity to work on numerous files and I am pleased with the development I have made. One of the things that I have particularly enjoyed is the diversity of the work that I have been able to undertake."
Second & Third Seat - Litigation - August 2009 - August 2010
"My current seat is Commercial Litigation and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I was immediately encouraged to play an active role in files and this has enabled me to experience many different aspects of Litigation. I have attended court for a number of hearings, I have attended conferences with Counsel and meetings with clients. I have been involved in without prejudice negotiations on large disputes and prepared witness statements and other court documents on large cases."
Tom qualified in 2010 and is now a Solicitor in our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team.
Joanna Webb (2008-2010)
First Seat - Family - February 2009
"Family has been an excellent department in which to begin my time at Stones and given that it is such a large area of the law has meant that there have been plenty of opportunities to stretch and develop my legal knowledge and experience"
Second Seat - Wills Trusts & Probate - August 2009
"I have enjoyed having my own caseload to work on, seeing some matters through from start to finish during my time in the department. The balance between desk-based tasks and client contact has been great. Although Trust and Probate is a busy area of law I have found that it is possible to structure my time quite well. That said, each day gives rise to plenty of new challenges and it is essential to be flexible and organised!"
Third Seat - Commercial Property - February 2010
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working in one of the firm’s commercial departments during my third seat. My workload in commercial property has been varied and challenging and has included drafting leases, contracts and related property documentation; negotiating and liaising with clients, other legal professionals and related parties; and assisting with exchanges and completions. I have been responsible for a number of clients’ transactions and for ensuring that matters are up to date and move forward accordingly. I am proud of the development I have noticed in my legal skills during this seat as a result of being given a structured training programme by my Supervisor."
Fourth Seat – Travel, Tourism and Insurance – July 2010
"I have spent my fourth seat with the busy Travel, Tourism and Insurance Team which has been a challenging and rewarding experience. I have assisted with a great deal of varied and interesting UK and international insurance related claims. I was welcomed into the Team from the outset and have been involved assisting each member in the Department with their respective matters. My supervisor has been very supportive and has given me direction and guidance in developing my litigation skills over the course of the time I have spent here.
My workload has included the drafting of statements and letters of claim, preparation of quantum and liability reports, assessing out of pocket expenses and loss of earnings claims, liaising with insurers and overseas agents, updating and advising clients to ensure strong communication links are maintained, undertaking legal research, and attending conferences with barristers and experts to advise on matters in relation to court proceedings. I have also been given the opportunity to use my language skills for translation purposes and liaising with police, hospitals, hotels and ski resorts."
Joanna qualified in 2010 and is now a Solicitor working abroad.
Nicola Janus-Harris (2008-2010)
First Seat - Commercial Property - February 2009
"Commercial Property really surprised me as I thought it would be a fairly routine area of work but actually it is really varied. I have been fortunate to have a supervisor who is very approachable and who takes a real interest in my training."
Second Seat - Family - August 2009
"Each day is so different and matters can move so quickly so you have to be able to respond to situations on short notice. A typical day will involve telephoning clients to give them updates on their cases, drafting applications and supporting statements and meeting with new clients to take initial instructions. I particularly enjoy the opportunity of attending court applications and hearings"
Third Seat - Wills Trust & Probate - March 2010
"I have just completed my third seat, in the Trusts & Probate Department. I have been involved with a variety of work including drafting Wills, dealing with Probate files and making applications to the Court of Protection. I have had the opportunity of meeting with clients to take initial instructions and have been able to observe meetings dealing with estate and tax planning. I have enjoyed the continuity of working on the same files and have been given responsibility for my own caseload."
Fourth Seat - Commercial Property - July 2010
I have returned to the Commercial Property department to complete my training contract. I have been involved with the acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold properties. I have also had the chance to be actively involved with large scale projects such as company restructuring, refinancing and the property element of business purchases. I have enjoyed working with a number of clients who are undertaking new commercial ventures but have also had the chance to work on files for long established commercial clients.
Nicola qualified in 2010 and is now a Solicitor in our Commercial Property Team.
Ian Brown (2007-2009)
Third Seat - P.I Travel - September 2008
"If I had to pinpoint one aspect of Stones that I like the most, it would be the straightforward and honest attitude that permeates the firm. I know that should I ever have a concern with my training, I am able to approach the Partner who is responsible for the trainees. She trained here herself and knows the way the firm works and this allows me to discuss matters openly and frankly."
Ian qualified in 2009 and is now a Solicitor in our PI Travel team
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