Trainee Talks: Two offices, two worlds

Working at Thompson Smith and Puxon has given me the chance to experience two very different types of office environment, each of which has shaped my professional journey since joining the firm.

The office in Clacton is undoubtedly the smaller branch and the building itself is more traditional. Staff members often have separate rooms to work in and there is no ‘communal’ workspace. It has two tight-knit teams, and a steady stream of walk-in clients that define its dynamic.

I have had the opportunity to work within both Clacton teams over the past year. Given the nature of the departments and the location of the office on Clacton high street, there is a focus on private client work, often for individuals who do not regularly instruct Solicitors and are therefore uncertain on what to expect and to ask for.

Frequent client interactions necessitate strong communication skills early on, and the fast-paced nature of the work ensures that you learn how to manage competing priorities. However, the spontaneity can sometimes make it difficult to structure your day. Unexpected matters often take precedence and you never know what walk-ins may bring!

The fact that the office is also smaller in scale means that a more hands-on approach is regularly needed, but the supportive atmosphere in Clacton makes it easy to ask questions and learn from more experienced colleagues in a variety of roles.

Working within the larger Colchester office can sometimes feel like an entirely different world. It has nearly five times the staff, an open-plan office situated away from the high street and the presence of the firm’s commercial departments and contentious teams create a distinctly different atmosphere.

Here, you will quickly find yourself exposed to a different side of the legal practice. Rather than the individualised approach required in Clacton, Colchester work can involve navigating complex disputing parties, or handling business-orientated issues. This commercial focus requires the legal professional to take a more strategic and methodical approach to each case. Many clients will have regularly instructed the firm in various different matters, and will have more knowledge of what they need the solicitors to do – therefore, the focus is often on specific technical detail, rather than general set up and structure.

While the open-plan layout remains modern and collaborative, the nature of the work can be more structured. Instead of the spontaneity associated with Clacton, Colchester client interactions are typically more scheduled, and their needs more varied.

The larger office also means that you need to make active steps to maintain and develop professional relationships compared to the connections that naturally form in the smaller office at Clacton. With so many more teams and individuals spread across a larger building, you can easily lose track of time and realise you have not spoken to someone in weeks.

Having worked in both offices, I have realised that each setting offers something valuable. For aspiring trainees, my advice is simply to embrace variety.

The different type of workloads and clientele between the offices has taught me the importance of being adaptable and responsive to immediate client needs. Part of working as a trainee solicitor is all about realising how much of the job is client interaction. While the legal knowledge that we study for years and continue to develop is undoubtedly important, you quickly come to realise that the quality of service you provide is crucial to the business of being a solicitor.

Direct, in-person communication is vital for building trust and rapport with clients, and learning to tailor your advice to meet their specific needs whilst offering support and understanding can have an immeasurable impact.

No single work environment can provide all the answers or skills you will need to excel in law. Instead, the combination of diverse experiences – even with TSP itself – shows just how complex and different each sector of a legal career can be.

Seeking out opportunities that push you beyond your comfort zone, and forces you to experience these different surroundings, can help you understand not only what type of law you enjoy, but also the type of environment you thrive within.

At the end of the day, there is no ‘right’ way to train. Each supervisor, each team and each environment will give rise to different expectations and ways of teaching, but the more diverse your experiences, the more prepared you will be for the legal challenges that will one day come your way.