Life of Newly Qualified UK Lawyer

Tag: legal profession

  • The Top 3 Qualities Every Solicitor Should Have

    The Top 3 Qualities Every Solicitor Should Have

    From qualifying as a solicitor and taking on my own clients and caseload it is clear to me that to become a good solicitor, it isn’t just about knowing the law in the area you practice inside out – you also need a solid legal foundation. However, what truly sets top solicitors apart are the qualities that help them navigate the unpredictable world of legal practice. I have found there are three qualities every solicitor should have which I have found should be top of anyone’s list.

    1. Creativity – Thinking Outside the Legal Box

    The law may be built on precedent, but that doesn’t mean solicitors should be stuck and confined to that. The best legal professionals know that creativity is key to problem-solving. Whether it’s crafting a unique argument, finding a loophole that benefits a client, or drafting deeds or contracts – creative thinking allows solicitors to take it to the next level.

    Great solicitors don’t just memorise laws – they use them in innovative ways to serve their clients better.

    2. Flexibility – Adapting to Any Legal Challenge

    The legal world is dynamic, and no two cases are ever the same. A great solicitor must be flexible enough to adapt to new information, changing client needs, and unexpected developments in a case. Whether it’s a sudden change in legislation, an uncooperative witness, or an opponent pulling a last-minute legal maneuver, flexibility allows solicitors to stay ahead.

    Being adaptable also means being open to new legal technologies, different practice areas, and alternative dispute resolution methods. The legal profession has changed and is changing – take the use of AI in legal practice and how it is being used to reduce the administration required of solicitors so they can practice law. Things are changing – in three years I wonder how much will have changed?

    3. Resilience – Bouncing Back from Setbacks

    Legal practice isn’t for the faint of heart. Whether you’re dealing with difficult clients, losing a case you fought hard for, or just managing the daily pressure of the job, resilience is essential. The best solicitors don’t dwell on failures; they learn from them and move forward.

    Resilience also means staying motivated in the face of long hours and demanding workloads. A strong solicitor knows how to manage stress, maintain a work-life balance, and keep pushing forward, no matter what challenges come their way.

    Becoming a Better Solicitor

    In my opinion, if you want to thrive in the legal profession, start honing these three qualities today. Creativity will make you a sharper problem-solver, flexibility will keep you ahead of the curve, and resilience will ensure you stay strong in the face of challenges.

    Want more insights into the legal profession? Visit Learning Lawyer for expert advice, career tips, and resources to help you on your legal journey.

    ⚖️ Solicitor by day | 🚢 Cruising the seas and navigating the law | Sharing legal tips & travel tales | 📲 Follow my journey on Instagram | Threads | TikTok | BlueSky |

  • A Day in the Life of a Conveyancing Solicitor: Coffee, Contracts, and Controlled Chaos

    A Day in the Life of a Conveyancing Solicitor: Coffee, Contracts, and Controlled Chaos

    Ah, conveyancing – the noble art of guiding people through the gauntlet of buying and selling houses while ensuring they don’t descend into madness (or take us with them). If you have ever wondered what a day in the life of a conveyancer looks like, strap in. It’s a thrilling mix of caffeine, client hand-holding, and wondering if the Land Registry is just a sophisticated social experiment designed to test our patience.

    8:30 AM -The First (of many) Coffee (The Calm Before the Storm)

    The day begins with the first, and arguably most important, coffee of the day. The inbox is opened with the optimism of a child on Christmas morning, only to be greeted with 57 emails, three urgent (as always)completion queries, and a client demanding to know why their house sale isn’t done yet despite only instructing us yesterday.

    9:00 AM – The Battle with Mortgage Lenders Begins

    A call to a mortgage lender to chase up a missing offer. After 45 minutes of hold music, a cheerful voice tells me they’ve just sent it through (translated to meaning – “we completely forgot, but we will email it now and pretend it was done earlier”).

    10:30 AM – The Estate Agent’s Check-in (a.k.a. Any Updates?)

    The estate agent calls for the third time this week, asking for an update. I remind them that property transactions take time and that I sent them an update yesterday, and that shockingly, I cannot physically manifest the magical powers to make solicitors on the other side or those further up the chain to move and engage any faster.

    11:00 AM -The Second Coffee (Now It’s Personal)

    The second coffee is necessary because a client has just emailed, convinced that I am deliberately delaying their sale for the sheer joy of it. I remind myself that patience is a virtue and that responding with a “I’m actually trying to complete 47 transactions at once” isn’t and may not be perceived as professional, so I take the higher ground and summon the inner diplomat and respond accordingly.

    12:30 PM – Lunch (or, More Likely, an Email Buffet)

    Lunch is an aspirational concept, usually replaced by grazing on whatever snacks are within reach while scanning through searches that have finally arrived (spoiler: they reveal a sewer may traverse the property and there may be or may not be drainage within a certain distance of the property, so urgent water map is now required to clarify at additional cost.)

    2:00 PM – The Completion Sprint

    A client calls in a panic because they thought completion meant they would have the keys this morning (despite several emails explaining it happens after funds transfer). I reassure them while pestering our accounts team to simultaneously refresh our banking system to see if the money has landed yet, I am dealing with other clients and their queries as well as the general upkeep of various other files and participating in normal work activities.

    3:00 PM – Coffee Three (Emergency Dosage)

    An urgent issue has arisen. A buyer’s solicitor has just noticed a minor discrepancy in the title deeds – something so small it’s barely visible to the human eye, but now completion must be delayed. I take a deep breath, make coffee number three, and prepare for the inevitable phone calls from all sides.

    4:30 PM – The Land Registry Maze

    I attempt to submit an application to the Land Registry. Naturally, I check and double check the application and supporting documents, but needless to see Land Registry will still find something to raise a query about – I think because they just love to communicate with me and need to find some excuse. I submit the application, cross my fingers, and prepare for the months-long wait for official registration.

    5:30 PM – The Final Emails (and the Illusion of Progress)

    A last sweep of the inbox reveals an email from a client sending a very urgent query at 5:29 PM. I decide whether to answer it now or pretend I didn’t see it until morning (professional discretion is key).

    6:00 PM – The End of the Day (In Theory)

    Laptop shut, desk cleared, and thoughts of a work-free evening begin. Except, just as I relax, an estate agent rings my mobile with a just one quick thing. I consider changing my number.

    Conclusion: Why Do We Do This?

    Despite the chaos, the endless emails, and the moments where I contemplate running away to a remote island with no Wi-Fi, conveyancing is actually rewarding. We help people move into their dream homes, save them from property nightmares, and most importantly provide the perfect excuse to drink alarming amounts of coffee.

    Now, if you will excuse me, I need another one.

    I should also end with the caveat that the above is a brief snapshot of highlights. There is off course a multitude of other things which happen in between times such of responding to letters, client meetings, phone calls, reading title, drafting, meetings amongst many other things.

    ⚖️ Solicitor by day | 🚢 Cruising the seas and navigating the law | Sharing legal tips & travel tales | 📲 Follow my journey on Instagram | Threads | TikTok | BlueSky |