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Over the course of my (admittedly very extended) work experience at Aston Bond, I saw a number of other people come and go on shorter stints of work experience. Some of these had an excellent experience and like me received an interesting variety of work and were even given varying degrees of responsibility. Others however seemed to miss the opportunities around them and drifted through their two weeks in a state of boredom.

Seeing this got me thinking about what I, and others, had done to help ensure an engaging and useful period of work experience. From my observations and experiences, I have compiled 5 tips for people just starting their journey towards a legal career who want to maximise what they get from legal work experience.

• Do the basics right

It is crucial to show attention to detail – don’t try to rush something because it seems easy or boring. This is applicable throughout, but it is especially important at the start when the people giving you work will be trying to gauge your ability to determine what level of task you can handle next. Making silly mistakes early on will make it harder to earn their trust and be given more challenging work. However, I think it also helps to think about this one in a broader sense. By this I mean acting professionally and being friendly – you are unlikely to earn any trust if you don’t have the self-discipline not to get your phone out every 20 minutes.

• Be patient

You cannot rush the initial trust-earning phase, so do not be disheartened if it takes time to be given more challenging work. If you go in expecting to be given a really glamorous piece of work right off the bat, you will likely be disappointed. Take the time to demonstrate your competence if you want to be rewarded with more interesting work.

• Be enthusiastic

See all work as a learning opportunity, because at the start it always is, if not about the law itself then at least about what working in a law firm is like. If you end up being given the same or similar tasks to do multiple times over, then it is an opportunity to practice and improve your ability to complete the process. There are also generally legal reasons for why things are done a certain way, so ask questions to develop your understanding.

• Be proactive

This one is often the one that makes the biggest difference. It is very easy to just stay behind your desk and wait for someone to give you something, but I have found that actively going out and seeking work made my time much more productive. It gave me a much wider variety of work than I would otherwise have received, and got me involved in matters that were more interesting to me. This can be helpful not just for developing practical legal experience, but also for figuring out which areas of law you would be interested in working in in the future. It is also a good way to demonstrate your enthusiasm to the firm. That said, it is important to remember that solicitors are busy people, so exercise common sense about when to approach them for work. Equally though, don’t be deterred by a ‘no’ – it is often worth trying again in a few days time.

• Expand your network

You will be working alongside qualified legal practitioners with a wealth of knowledge, so take the time to get to know them and help them out. This will allow you to learn more from them about what they do on a daily basis, and may even give you someone to turn to in the future if you require advice about your career.

The above list is far from exhaustive, but hopefully it has provided you with a few things to keep in mind while completing work experience that will help you to make the most of the opportunity.

By Henry Smith

24.08.2022

This month our private client team Lara Thomas & Kanchana Kumari attended the Private Client Seminar hosted by Professor Lesley King.

The Private Client Update was jam-packed with a wide range of information and interaction! 

The session provided a review and update of current issues in Private Client Practice and focused on good practice.

Both Lara and Kanchana are vitally aware of all the recent developments in the private client area. 

‘ Lesley’s knowledge on estates & probate was impressive and informative ‘ says Lara.

Overall, it was a truly enjoyable afternoon.

Here are some snippets from the event:

We are proud to announce that our very own commercial property solicitor Wafaa Syed ran in the 2023 London marathon.

The marathon was first run in 1981, and since then it has become one of the largest and most popular marathons in the world.

The London Marathon is not only a race, but it’s also a major fundraising event for charities. Runners from all around the world participate in the marathon to raise money for various charitable organizations. In fact, the event has raised over a billion pounds for charity since its inception.

The course of the London Marathon takes runners through many famous landmarks of London, including Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace.

The event attracts both professional and amateur runners, and runners of all abilities are welcome to participate.

Overall, the London Marathon is a celebration of running, fitness, and charitable giving, and it has become one of the most iconic sporting events in the world.

Wafaa Syed says ‘I love running and I am privileged that I ran in this year’s London Marathon to raise money and awareness for SENSE. 

I believe people with deafblindness or complex disabilities should be provided with the opportunity to communicate and experience the world and fulfil their potential, including those with minor disabilities such as children with SEND needs, such as ADHD and sensory processing disorders ‘.

At Aston Bond, our team is incredibly proud of Wafaa!

Please click here to donate.

We are walking with the Lord Chief Justice and thousands of lawyers to raise funds for the London Legal Support Trust. The London Legal Walk is the biggest fundraising event in aid of free legal advice and support for everything from Law Centres and Citizens Advice services to refugee specialist support services. 

Over 13.4 million people live in poverty in the UK and advice providers are at breaking point with the growing need from their clients. Many people cannot afford legal help and we believe everybody should be able to receive legal advice when they need it most. 

The London Legal Walk raises vital funds to ensure that legal help reaches our community’s most vulnerable people. Receiving good legal advice at the right time can make a huge difference to people’s lives reducing their chances of facing debt, poverty, homelessness, exploitation and discrimination.

The event supports over 100 legal advice agencies in London and the South East. We know that these agencies do a fantastic job in changing people’s lives.

Your support is needed more than ever. Please click here and sponsor our walkers as generously as you are able.

Many thanks for your support.

We are proud to announce that we will be taking part in this year’s London Legal Walk, which aims to ensure justice for all!

For 19 years the London Legal Walk has been bringing together the legal community to support free legal advice services on the frontline.

Click here to sponsor our team!

This week is world autism awareness. Autistic workers are more likely to face bullying and other forms of harassment / discrimination from managers as well as co-workers.

Staggering data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that only 22 percent of autistic people are in any type of paid employment and 47 per cent mask their autism and don’t even disclose that part of themselves to employees.

In this article we take a look at how you can support autistic workers.

What is autism?

Also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behaviour. Autistic people experience the world differently and may have difficulty processing sensory information some of which include:

• Struggling to communicate and interact with other people
• Finding things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable.
• Taking longer to understand information
• Repetitive behaviours
• Find it hard to understand how other people think or feel.

Supporting neurodiverse employees

One of the biggest problems for employers is that employees often do not feel comfortable disclosing their neurodiverse condition in the workplace, or they may be undiagnosed.

When employers fail to actively support neurodiverse workers, they could miss out on the benefits of thought diversity, increased employee productivity, and even struggle to hire the best talent.

Pay attention to sensory sensitivities

Many autistic individuals are sensitive to sensory input, such as bright lights, loud noises, and strong smells.

Employers can make the workplace more sensory-friendly by providing noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to block out background noise, installing dimmer switches to control the lighting in the workspace and consider using unscented cleaning products.

Provide accommodations

These are changes in the work environment that enable autistic employees to be effective in their job. These can include modifications to the physical workspace, changes to work schedules, and adjustments to communication methods. 

At Aston Bond we stand against any type of discrimination in the workplace and we understand everyone’s needs which more employers and schools need to be aware of. For more information, please contact imardarescu@astonbond.co.uk or 01753 486 777.

This Friday 17^th March Lara Thomas (Private Client Solicitor) and Kulbir Conner (Head of Residential Property) attended the royal Windsor BNI business networking event.

BNI is an organisation set up for business professionals who help each other grow their businesses. Each week, along with thousands of communities across the globe, members meet with other trusted business leaders to build and nurture lasting relationships and pass qualified business referrals.

Lara Thomas, our latest addition to the firm, presented her 60 second speech introducing a bit about herself, her expertise and her time at Aston Bond so far.

As usual, she was made to feel very welcome by all BNI members at Windsor and she thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone.

This week it is Neurodiversity Celebration Week.  It is a worldwide initiative aimed at challenging people’s perceptions and stereotypes.  There are still many misconceptions about neurological differences and raising awareness is key.  It is about recognising the strengths and talents of those on the spectrum and understanding that we are all unique.   

With the proper support in place, people with neurodiversity conditions can thrive and can benefit not just businesses but society as a whole. 

At Aston Bond we understand everyone’s needs and evolving with the times in which more employers and schools need to be aware of the various needs that they possess.

When it comes to the local community, we love the chance to help out!  We believe helping young people take the right step is crucial. This month we attended the Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy careers event in association with learning to work where students had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the many career paths open to them.

The event is hugely important for the young people of Slough. Not only does it raise awareness of the many different career opportunities but also promotes the employability skills that employers and the local economy need to achieve growth. 

To allow students to benefit the most, Learning to Work has facilitated a careers event for students and business volunteers to interact and provide hands-on activities to help engage. Parents were also given an allocated timeslot to allow them to access careers advice and opportunities in the surrounding areas.

There was approximately 1600 students ranging from Year 7,8,9,10,11 (Ages 11-16).

Students had many questions inquiring about all the different routes to becoming a solicitor as well as planning their potential careers.

It was a pleasure giving these enthusiastic young minds the advice they needed to pursue their law career.

We would like to share with you some snippets from the event :

As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to do everything within your means to limit risk and keep the business running smoothly. From opening your business, setting it up or incorporating it properly, opening bank accounts, registrations for VAT, PAYE and setting up premises, there is a lot to be done.  As your business becomes more successful, it also becomes more vulnerable. There are many potential disasters that can harm your business, which means you need to be prepared and take legal advice on aspects you are unsure of.

Ensure you have a shareholder’s agreement – On starting a company with more than one shareholder, shareholders are often advised to make a Shareholders’ Agreement, in order to further regulate the way business between them is to be conducted and how the profits of that business is to be distributed. Disagreements on business matters will almost inevitably occur at some point throughout the company’s existence. A good agreement will put in place a mechanism to help resolve disputes. Disputes could otherwise severely hinder the progress of the business and be particularly costly.  A serious shareholders’ disputes can also lead to an ultimate demise of the business if not handled correctly.

Put in place an employment contracts – An employment contract (and ancillary employment documents) is something that is introduced as one of the first documents that a new employee will receive and will need to sign. It outlines the employee’s role within the company as well as the various details regarding the job itself such as working hours and various agreements between both parties.  Getting the basics right for your employees from day one avoids problems in the future.

Intellectual property infringements – Businesses take reasonable steps to protect fixed assets, like their stock and equipment. Trademarks, patents and copyrights can all also add value to your business. Whenever businesses introduce something to the world, there’s a risk they might be copied. This risk is amplified by the internet, which makes it easier for unique IP to be stolen.

Insure your business – Insurance is one of the major aspects of businesses. You should obtain liability insurance (as well as employers liability insurance). This will come in handy if a client slips and falls in your business premises for instance! An insurance regarding errors and omissions will provide ample coverage in case a customer accuses your business of not living up to the contract or agreement.

At Aston Bond we are here to help you implement the steps which will ensure that your company is well-protected and prepared for growth. For more information or assistance, please contact us on 01753 486777.