I am a Solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team at Machins, and have been involved with the trainee solicitor recruitment process for a few years now, since I was a trainee myself. When I attend law fairs and do talks for law students, lots of candidates ask what my top tips are for when they
January 2021 marks the start of a new year, and I am delighted to embark on my final six months of life as a trainee solicitor, before qualifying – eeeeek! My previous seats have been private family, public family, company commercial/commercial property, and now I am back to private family where I hope to qualify
They say hindsight is a wonderful thing… As I embark on my final few months (5.5 to be exact) as a trainee solicitor, I’m writing to a former me, and any other future trainees, to set the record straight… Dear Future Trainee, Wow, you did it?! No, I know, you’re not qualified yet or maybe
by Brad Johnson and Samantha Ball The musician and grime artist Kano once said, “There’s more than one way to make it” and much to many people’s surprise becoming a Solicitor couldn’t be more true to this statement. At the time of writing, I am in my second seat in the Employment Department and my
As a trainee, two things are guaranteed: 1) you will copy a forests worth of paperwork and 2) you will work in at least two departments. If you are lucky – or unlucky – you might work in four departments. This seemingly routine aspect of the training contract is, to my mind, the greatest cause
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement about a further national lockdown beginning on Thursday 5th November, we wanted to reassure you about how we will continue to provide you with the advice and support you need during this time. Throughout the pandemic our top priority has always been the health and safety of our staff, clients
Machins Solicitors has achieved seven practice area recommendations in the latest edition of Legal 500 UK including one Top Tier ranking in the area of family law for the second year running. Among the areas of expertise in which the firm is regarded includes corporate and commercial, employment and family as well, dispute resolution, private
The Coronavirus Act 2020 and introduction of a new practice direction in the court has had the effect of (i) increasing the notice period under s21 and s8 possession claims to three months (see Schedule 29 of Coronavirus Act 2020); and (ii) staying all possession claims (see paragraph 2 of CPR PD 51Z). In practice,
Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, remote hearings in England and Wales were few and far between and the vast majority of hearings (whether civil, criminal or family) were heard face-to-face in court rooms up and down the country. This was the case whether the court was dealing with a short 10 minute possession claim,
Alongside Working The Future we have written this discussion paper on Workforce Planning in the wake of Covid 19. It is our view that the effects of Covid-19 pose both challenges and opportunities for businesses but whatever your view, we should all accept that the wider economic landscape has changed irreversibly as a result. Because the nature of