A day in the life of a trainee solicitor

One of MCP's Trainee Solicitors Chloe Kitchen describes a typical day in the office…

"I am a trainee solicitor at MCP and am currently working in the Property Department at the Firm's Peterborough Office. I will have completed my training contract in 2 months and will be staying in this department on qualification.

8.30 am

My first job of the day is to check the diary for the day's completions. Today we have to complete a purchase for a first time buyer. I check the file one last time and ask our cashiers to send the monies to the seller's solicitors and call the client to confirm.

8.45am

Next, I check my emails. I have an email from a client raising some questions about the property he is purchasing. He wants to make sure he can replace windows at the property and wants to clarify the boundary responsibilities. I go through the title deeds again and manage to find answers to all of his queries.

9.30am

I need to prepare a draft lease for a commercial client. I realise that they have only just purchased the property and therefore I locate the purchase file, collect all the relevant documents and open a new lease file. I locate a suitable precedent lease, and make the necessary amendments and alterations. I print this and hand it to my supervisor for checking and further amendments. I speak to 3 different estate agents who are ringing for updates whilst working on the lease.

11.30am

At this point, the seller's solicitors call to confirm they have received the funds we sent earlier and will be releasing the keys which are held by the estate agent. I call the client to confirm completion and advise them that the collect the keys.

11.45am

Reception call to let me know a client has called in to reception and wants to have a quick chat. I pop down. The client is purchasing a buy to let property and has received the report on the property we have prepared for her. She has a couple of questions regarding the boiler service report and when the conservatory was added. She signs all the paperwork required and confirms she will be transferring the deposit to us later today. She would like completion next week.

12.30pm

I get back to my desk, email the solicitors acting for the seller of the client I have just seen and ask them to confirm that their client can move next week. I respond to an email from a commercial client asking for an up date on the Licence to Assign we are drafting for them. Another estate agent rings for a progress report. I nip out for lunch.

1.30pm

Contract papers have arrived for a client purchasing a leasehold property. I go through all the documentation provided and raise enquiry. The leasehold information pack from the Landlord is missing and new windows have been installed so we need to see evidence that the Landlord has consented to this in accordance with the lease.

2.15pm

The solicitors I emailed earlier asking for a completion date of next week have responded and confirmed their client is happy with this. I complete our client's lender's Certificate of Title and request funds from the lender.

2.30pm

I receive a telephone call from the solicitors acting for the buyer of a property my client is selling. They are ready to exchange contracts. I check they have a full 10% deposit. I check the file making sure I hold signed documents and have an up to date redemption statement so that I know how much we need to pay to the mortgage company to clear the mortgage on completion. I call my client to make sure they are happy to proceed explaining carefully that once we have exchanged contracts, they are legally bound to sell. They are happy to proceed so I go ahead and exchange and then confirm this with the client and the estate agents.

3.15pm

I have a couple of queries on some files that I want to check with my supervisor. She advises me on how to proceed on a couple of matters. We have a catch up of the days events and what is planned for the rest of the week. She asked me to prepare a report for a client who is purchasing a new build property with the aid of a help to buy mortgage. This takes up the rest of the afternoon. I collate all the documents and leave the file with my supervisor for her to double check.

5.30pm

Having dealt with my post and checked my emails again, I head off to catch my train home."

For more information about Training Contracts with MCP, please contact Alison Muir (01553 778102 alison.muir@mcp-law.co.uk)