As part of our series of articles to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2023, Laura Morland gives us an insight into what it’s like to be a Solicitor Apprentice at the firm and the Skills for Life that she’s building.
I cannot believe it has already been 4 years since I began as a Solicitor Apprentice at Browne Jacobson, the time really has flown – no day is the same. I’ve taken the opportunity to provide a little insight as to what I do in the Public Law Team on a day-to-day basis.
Monday 30 January 2023
As a Solicitor Apprentice, I have one day a week dedicated to my study. I usually like to take these on Mondays.
I am currently studying Criminal Litigation & Evidence as well as Access to Justice. My study days are always very busy, with plenty to get done. Today I attended a lecture for Criminal Litigation and Evidence, this was really interesting and also covered some areas I studied in Criminal and Public Law. I also had some reading to complete for the unit… there was a lot to get through!
Finally, it is Mock Assessment week for Access to Justice, so I also completed this, the assessment this time was written coursework and multiple-choice questions… I think I did well!
Tuesday 31 January 2023
Today is one of our team days so I went into the Nottingham office. It is really nice to be with the team, I find it invaluable speaking with them and being able to ask questions… the idea is to learn on the job.
As it was my study day yesterday, Tuesday mornings are often spent catching up on the emails from the day before, thankfully there weren’t too many. I really enjoyed the work I was involved with today, I was able to have a call with a client to provide legal advice on a relatively complicated area of law. I then spent some of my day drafting documents for Court, the first related to Judicial Review proceedings which we see many of in the Public Law Team. I then also drafted some additional documents for Court on a different matter, this time with an environmental focus (the team also do Planning and Environment work).
In the afternoon, I was invited to a university to talk about my apprenticeship and Browne Jacobson. I really enjoy being able to do these talks, it is a great opportunity to spread awareness about alternative routes to ‘the Law’.
Wednesday 1 February 2023
My day has been a little different today. This morning, I dealt with some more administrative tasks, one of which was arranging for a new file to be set up for a new instruction I had received from a Partner in the team. It’s really important we take time with such tasks as this is the very beginning of new work, I therefore needed to be thorough to provide all the information needed to correctly open the file - ready to start work.
Once this was done, I was able to meet a new member to the team and give them a tour of the office! It only feels like yesterday that I was being given my tour of the office.
The main work I completed today was preparation for a call with a client tomorrow. The prep included reviewing the documents the client provided as part of their instruction and also completing legal research into the legislation and cases to help form our advice. It was nice to be able to do a legal research task, I don’t currently do many of these however, I am hoping to increase the legal research tasks I complete. It is one of my objectives to help develop my skills as an Apprentice Solicitor. Legal research can often be a long task to ensure we have covered all bases necessary, I made good headway with this however, I suspect there is still more to be done… I’ll let you know how I get on with the call tomorrow!
Thursday 2nd February 2023
The call went well! We were able to get the information we needed, and also complete the additional legal research to formulate our advice. This meant I could draft this today; I am just going to do a final proofread tomorrow before it goes to a Partner for supervision. This filled the majority of my day.
I also had a call about some slightly different work relating to Japanese Knotweed, this work usually sits with the Technical Claims team, however, I did do a seat with Technical Claims for two and a half years, so I do have experience in litigation. It was really interesting to learn about something new and to be able to use my skills developed over the last four years as an Apprentice to re-visit Technical Claims work.
I also had a call with my Supervisor/Line Manager today, as an Apprentice we have these relatively regularly (weekly), we use the opportunity to catch up with the work I am doing and also generally how I am doing. We often consider how I am meeting the competency requirements for my Solicitor Apprenticeship (I have to keep a log of evidence of this to be able to use at something called a ‘Gateway Meeting’, this is to provide evidence that I am working at a Day 1 Solicitor standard). We do this by ensuring I have a good variety of work, the focus at the moment is advisory. I’m sure you will agree, I get up to all sorts!
Friday 3rd February 2023
I can’t believe it is Friday already! I worked from home today as I needed to get my head down with a very large disclosure task. ‘Disclosure’ is something we submit to the Court when a case is litigated, it can include a variety of pieces of information such as documents and emails. This took up a large portion of the day.
Another important task I did today was working through my billing report, this is something we have to do monthly to charge for the work we complete. This is therefore very important; it is more administrative however is still an element of my role (albeit not day to day).
There you have it, a week in the life of a Solicitor Apprentice! I’m sure you will agree the work I get up to is relatively varied, most weeks often include work like this week, however, I also do Planning work such as negotiating planning agreements, which I have not done much of this week.
I feel so lucky to be a Solicitor Apprentice, it is the best of both worlds, I get to study for my degree and SQE as well as learning critical, transferable skills on the Job! I am a very hands-on person and therefore, this is what intrigued me back in 2018 when I first found out about the apprenticeship route over the traditional University option.
Browne Jacobson is a brilliant firm to work for, not only am I able to undertake challenging work I also get to be part of additional communities, such as the Social Mobility group. I truly do feel a valued employee and that there is trust in me as an Apprentice, which only helps my progression as I gain confidence with the work I do. My team and the firm are supportive of Solicitor Apprentices, and all other employees, I really can’t wait to qualify! Only two more years to go…
Key contact

Laura Morland
Solicitor Apprentice
laura.morland@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)330 045 2670
You may be interested in...
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Planning for our future: working on protecting the natural environment
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Building our future town centres: advising local authorities on landmark acquisitions
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Our new office in the heart of Cardiff city centre
Press Release - Firm news
Dublin firm Browne Jacobson strengthens growing TMT practice with promotion of dispute resolution specialist
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson cements its offering in the Welsh market with launch of its seventh office, in Cardiff
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Enabling, authentic and rewarding: how Browne Jacobson’s culture fostered a leading education practice
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Embracing space to thrive in the South West – the exciting opportunities our new Exeter home offers
Press Release - Firm news
Record financial results for Browne Jacobson as turnover hits £105m
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson becomes first law firm to partner with Plain Numbers to improve understanding of numbers
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson wins brace of legal industry awards for social mobility programme
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Balancing elite sport with a career in corporate law
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
The Solicitor Apprentice: exploring alternative routes into careers in law
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Building a law firm fit for the future: A CFO’s to-do list
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Becoming O Shaped: Championing positive change
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson first law firm to join Ladder for Greater Birmingham campaign
Published Article - Firm news
Neurodiversity in law firms: Thinking outside the box
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Placing inclusion at the heart of strategy: an interview with Caroline Green, Senior Partner
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Breaking through barriers to reach the bar
Opinion - Future Lawyer blog
Hints and tips to help you apply for a Solicitor Apprenticeship
Opinion - Future Lawyer blog
A day in the life of our Solicitor Apprentice Laura Morland
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Putting values into action: creating an ethical supply chain
Opinion - Future Lawyer blog
Why consider an apprenticeship over going to university?
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson health lawyer wins major accolade at Made in Manchester Awards
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
From the lab to the law: Natasha’s journey to becoming a future lawyer with Browne Jacobson
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Driving positive change through investment: a corporate associate advising in the energy sector
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
From associate to partner in an investment lifecycle - Ryan's story
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson maintains top spot in Social Mobility Employer Index 2022
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson appointed to first Social Mobility Commission Employer Advisory Group
Browne Jacobson can announce that the firm has been chosen as one of 13 UK businesses who will form the Social Mobility Commission’s (SMC) new Employer Advisory Group. The Employer Advisory Group has been put in place to drive social mobility in the workplace in the UK and support the Commission’s employer focused programme of work.Press Release - Firm news
Law firm wins Franco-British Business Award for Diversity and Inclusion
UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has won the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the 23rd Franco-British Business Awards 2022.
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Browne Jacobson helps the Civil Aviation Authority take off with its modernisation masterplan
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson partners with Forage to launch virtual work experience to improve diversity and inclusion in legal sector
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson barrister wins Manchester Young Talent Award
Holly Quirk, an associate barrister in Browne Jacobson’s Manchester office, was awarded the Legal Professional of the Year Award at this year’s Manchester Young Talent Awards.
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson named as one of the UK’s best law firms by The Times
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
From trainee to managing partner – an interview with Richard Medd
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Raising the Bar with Browne Jacobson
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Introducing our new Birmingham home - living and breathing our values through our office space
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Browne Jacobson helps Clean Power Hydrogen plc
Press Release - #BeingBrowneJacobson
Courageous conversations: turning words into action
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson double deal success at Insider Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2022
Browne Jacobson’s corporate finance lawyers are celebrating after two of its deals won major awards at the Insider Midlands Dealmakers Awards 2022.
Press Release - Firm news
Browne Jacobson implements latest Real Living Wage rates with immediate effect to offset cost of living crisis
Law firm Browne Jacobson has confirmed its commitment as a Real Living Wage employer by implementing the Living Wage Foundation’s newly announced rates with immediate effect to help offset the cost of living crisis for low paid workers.