Insight Review at Lester Aldridge

The Role

Role Description

Daily duties in the real estate department included calling various bill authorities e.g. Councils or water companies. Handling legal docs, searching for evidence for cases and researching key points in law.

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I found they worked really hard to give me real legal insight as well as paralegal work for example I was doing legal research for real cases and trying to gather evidence as well as auditing legal docs

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

The team was incredibly friendly. I could not rate the Southampton team more highly as they were always willing to explain their position and their work as well as offering valuable advice when it came to training contracts and the degree itself!

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I was given a lot of support but at the same time I wasn't being splinted so I felt valued as an adult with similar intelligence to the team. Fundamentally it was not patronising and you were part of the team as opposed to the on tap waitress.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

They always had tasks for me to do but there was no pressure to complete them really quickly, which was great because I learnt about the use of time management but at the same time I felt I had enough space to learn and adapt to the fast paced nature of a law office.

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

I was given loads of responsibility and I never felt they were checking over my shoulder but at the same time they appreciated how new I was to the role and operated s very real open office policy so I felt that I could always ask if I needed help.

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

I felt so much more prepared when it came to researching the law and also understanding legal thought processes and vocabulary. This is because they really tried to explain what I was doing so I could work with a context rather than just at face value.

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

There was a definate serious vibe to the office but they were always talkative and enjoyed the work they were doing as they really worked in a team.

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

It was great as they had already preorganised a computer login and other such codes as well as a desk.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

As I was only there a short while they were limited however any opportunity to teach me something useful and relevant to the profession all the staff would try to explain in as much detail as possible.

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

• Subsidised Canteen

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

As a really promising regional firm it would be a fantastic place to apply to for work in the future however if you want large deals and projects in the corporate sector it may not be the best firm for you but the experience of a placement there is priceless!

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

Monday lunch we went to a lovely Italian restaurant and on friday lunch we went to the pub which was great as it gave me a real opportunity to learn about the people and the firm. If was also great that the staff members were all so willing to hear about my future projections and gave me great advice.

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

Nowhere is great at the moment but they chose socialising placed that had a broad spectrum of prices to suit a variety of budgets which was so considerate. However Southampton does have a much cheaper cost of living than most in the south.

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

There are plenty of good bars bug not too many good proper clubs. And loads of good restaurants

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Rated 7/10

It wasn't offered to me directly as I was there for too little time however the staff were discussing their activities so I assume had my placement been during an event I would have been included.

In addition to these questions, is there any extra information you would like to leave about your experiences on your work placement that other students may be interested in?

The office was very welcoming and relaxed which was a great environment to learn about the legal profession in as I felt I could freely ask anyone any work related questions.

Review 2/2 for Lester Aldridge

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