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What’s it like working at Harbottle & Lewis?

Harbottle & Lewis is a firm which is committed to developing their trainees both inside and outside legal work. From our trainee buddy and training principal system to the open-plan offices, the firm ensures that we as trainees are receiving valuable training and support. It’s a great place to work and my experience so far has truly been a case of doing interesting work for interesting clients!

Aside from the work, it has also been great to get involved with the social side of the firm. The firm’s yearly quiz took place in my first week here which was great fun and I’ve also been able to attend various business development events ranging from debates to dodgeball! There is lots to get involved with and enjoy. The free lunches have also been a treat with there being something new to have each day!

What seats have you been in so far?

My first seat was in the Property team where I was able to assist in a wide variety of work. From advising clients on the sale and buy side of residential property transactions to assisting in drafting various documents, it was an area I was able to develop a variety of skill sets. It was also nice being able to co-lead a know-how session with a colleague on a recent and quite complex piece of legislation where transactions involving buildings of a certain size were impacted!

I am currently a second seat trainee in the Private Client, Tax and Immigration team. The work has been technical and interesting. This has been coupled with frequent client contact which has been a great experience as we assist clients through their estate planning solutions. I will usually take an attendance note during meetings and I recently had the opportunity to present to a client on an area of research that I helped to prepare.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience so far?

I have really enjoyed the variety of work I have been able to get involved in as well as getting to know my colleagues. I’ve also enjoyed being given responsibility over client matters albeit with a sufficient level of support. It has been great to get involved with various business development opportunities and social events as well as contribute towards the firm’s CSR initiatives. We have trainee socials quite often and more recently we were able to go to Hijingo Bingo where a few of us won prizes!

Tell us about an interesting matter you have worked on and what you were responsible for.

In my first seat, I was involved in the sale of a leasehold interest in a commercial property from the start of the transaction to completion. I was able to draft the initial commercial contract as well as the necessary transfer form. I found this matter particularly interesting as I also had to liaise with the previous owners’ representatives concerning their registration of their initial sale. Upon completion, I was able to prepare the necessary documents to send to the buyer’s solicitors for registration. It was rewarding to have contributed to the completion of a matter in which unique circumstances arose.

What lessons have your learnt from your experience?

It is really important to try to gather and understand the context behind a task you are given. It can be easy to only focus on the particular task you have to complete, but it is important to understand that there is a reason and wider purpose behind this. Understanding this puts you in a great position to know how you can help colleagues with the remaining steps on a matter.

What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Be proactive and always think about how you can add value. Not only is this appreciated by your colleagues but it also allows you to gain experience in tasks you otherwise may not have had the opportunity to do!

What is one piece of advice you would give to applicants?

Think about the evidence you have which highlights your interest in the firm and the type of work that we do and ensure that this is communicated throughout the application process. Be authentic and specific as to why you would like to work at the firm.

What’s it like working at Harbottle & Lewis?

Harbottle is a really exciting place to work. The work you get to be involved in is so interesting and at the top of its game. As a trainee especially you’re constantly learning something new. The firm also encourages their employees to get involved in the various events it organises throughout the year, which includes anything ranging from panels, social events and charity activities.

We also have a weekly wellbeing programme offering a range of workout classes. The dance cardio sessions are honestly one of my favourites and always make me laugh. I’m also part of the netball team which is so much fun.

What seats have you been in so far?

My first seat was in the Family team. Having studied it on the LPC as one of my electives, it was great to start my training contract in this team. From regularly attending client calls to preparing documents for court hearings, you really get involved in so much and learn a lot. One of the matters I worked on was a child abduction case, which really emphasised the skill in exhibiting both sensitivity and strong negotiations to help the client navigate this difficult and emotionally charged time.

My second seat was in the Commercial Litigation team. They work on such a variety of matters that it gives you great exposure to so many different areas – every matter is just so different to the next. It’s a dynamic team and trainees get involved in nearly every stage of the court process where tasks can include conducting legal research and drafting letters to court or the other side. It gives you the opportunity to engage with various legal procedures and understand some of the strategies and negotiations involved in resolving complex disputes.

I have now started my third seat in the Corporate team.

What have you enjoyed most about your experience so far?

Everyone is honestly so friendly and approachable that it makes it just that much more enjoyable to work with your colleagues. I genuinely enjoy getting to know everyone across the firm, their interests and hobbies and have made some great friends.

Tell us about an interesting matter you have worked on and what you were responsible for.

During my Commercial Litigation seat, I was engaged on a complex matter that was progressing to trial. As a trainee I was involved in preparing and drafting court documentations, attending the court hearings in the lead up to trial and liaising with counsel, the client and the various third parties involved. I was constantly learning. It was fast-paced at times, but I think that actually added to the true nature of what the preparations for trial are like. Working with the team on this made it a very rewarding experience, right through to the end.

What lessons have you learnt from your experience?

At the end of the day, it is up to you to make the most out of the experience. You never know when an opportunity will present itself. Everyone here is so willing to help others learn and grow that you just have to voice your interests and speak to the people around you.

What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Don’t focus on being the loudest person in the room – learn by listening.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to applicants?

Observe everything with an open mind and stay curious. Keep asking questions!

What’s it like working at Harbottle & Lewis?

Harbottle is a really good place to train. The atmosphere is friendly and everyone is very approachable, so it’s easy to get to know people around the firm and ask questions when you need to (hot desking also helps!). It’s also common for trainees to get involved in organising business development, client and social events so there are good opportunities to develop your soft skills as well as your technical legal skills.

Given that the majority of our clients work in the media and entertainment industries, the work at Harbottle is usually very interesting, and a lot of it relates to things that you hear about in the news or in popular culture. That’s a huge plus – it’s great being part of a firm doing relevant work that people are interested in.

What has been your favourite seat so far?

My first seat was in our Family department which deals with some incredibly complex and high value matters, often working with our reputation management and private client teams.  The work is fast-paced and the team are really at the top of their field – I learnt so much in this department!

My second seat was in Employment working mostly on contentious matters in the Employment Tribunal or the High Court. I really liked that the lawyers in this team are their clients’ professional ‘trusted advisors’.

I was then in Commercial Litigation for my third seat where no two days were the same! The field of commercial litigation is so broad that there was always an interesting and novel area of law to be researched.

I’ve just started in my fourth seat during which I’ll be working across our well known Film, TV and Theatre and Media and Entertainment departments. I’m really enjoying my first commercial / non-contentious seat so far!

What have you enjoyed most about your experience so far?

I have loved the fact that, as a Harbottle trainee, the majority of the work you do is on live matters and so is genuinely useful and contributes to the wider project that your team is working on. For example, trainees are often asked to do the first draft of letters, agreements and witness statements. Because of the small size of the trainee cohort, and the fact that there are only one or two trainees per department, you become an integral part of the team. Of course there can be some admin involved, but the majority of the work I’ve done in all of the departments I’ve sat in is billable client work that has then been used by my senior colleagues on the matter.

Tell us about an interesting matter you have worked on and what you were responsible for.

During my Employment seat we were acting for a TV production company defending a claim in the Employment Tribunal.  I was heavily involved in liaising with partners from different departments in the firm, in house lawyers on the client’s side and our client’s barrister to finalise our Grounds of Resistance to be filed with the Tribunal. It was a great challenge as we were working under time pressure to meet a tight deadline and I was responsible for incorporating everyone’s comments into each re-draft of the document. Submitting the final version of the Grounds that the client was very happy with was incredibly rewarding!

What lessons have your learnt from your experience?

As a junior team member, being someone who can problem solve and just figure things out is incredibly valuable for the rest of the team.  A lot of the time there won’t be a set way in which someone wants you to complete a task – they just want the task to be done on time and done well! Adopting a solution-based approach when tackling challenges and having a ‘can do’ attitude can teach you to find answers or complete tasks that you didn’t think you would be able to just by using the resources that you already have.

What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

Communication is key!  Open communication with the people around you can prevent most problems and solve most issues.

What one piece of advice you would give to applicants?

Applying for training contracts can be a bit daunting and stressful – try to embrace the challenges, stay calm through the stress and don’t be afraid to show your personality throughout the process!