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Work Experience

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Discover what a career in law is really like

Are you interested in law but unsure what working in a law firm actually involves?

Our work experience programme gives students the opportunity to step inside a busy solicitors’ practice, meet legal professionals and explore several different areas of law.

This is not simply a week of observation. You will complete realistic legal exercises, learn how solicitors support their clients and develop skills that will be valuable in your education and future career.

We welcome applications for our work experience programme between 1st November and 1st February.

What can you expect?

During your placement, you will spend time with a variety of departments across Oliver & Co.

You will learn about the work each team undertakes, the clients they support and the different roles that help a legal matter progress. Wherever possible, you will also meet solicitors, trainees, paralegals and support colleagues who can tell you about their work and their own routes into the legal profession.

Your placement may include:

completing realistic legal tasks based on fictional client scenarios;
reviewing legal forms, contracts and supporting documents;

researching legal and commercial issues;

drafting letters, reports and other documents;

identifying important information and potential risks;

learning how a matter progresses from a client’s first enquiry to its conclusion;

discussing your work with members of the relevant department;

hearing about different careers and routes into law; and

developing your confidence in a professional workplace.

The exact timetable may vary depending on the length of your placement and the work taking place within the firm.

Explore different areas of law

One of the most valuable parts of our programme is the opportunity to experience several legal specialisms.

You may spend time with the following teams:

Commercial Property

Learn how solicitors help businesses, developers, landlords and tenants buy, sell, lease and develop commercial property.

Activities may include comparing Heads of Terms with a draft lease, reviewing property search results, identifying possible risks and preparing a short report about an overage agreement.

Clinical Negligence

Discover how our team supports people who may have suffered avoidable harm following medical treatment.

You may consider issues such as breach of duty, causation and compensation, research the possible value of a claim, prepare a Schedule of Loss or draft a Letter of Claim using a fictional scenario.

Conveyancing

Follow the key stages involved in buying a home, from initial checks and searches through to exchange, completion and post-completion work.

Tasks may include reviewing title documents, answering common client questions, completing parts of a contract, preparing a basic mortgage report and creating a timeline showing the stages of a property purchase.

Corporate & Commercial

Explore how lawyers help business owners establish, protect, grow and eventually sell or transfer their businesses.

You could review a draft contract, research trade mark registration, create client-friendly information about Employee Ownership Trusts or draft content explaining legal services to business owners.

As an employee-owned firm, we can also offer first-hand insight into what becoming an Employee Ownership Trust means in practice.

Family Law

Learn how family solicitors support clients through matters involving separation, divorce, finances and arrangements for children.

Using fictional client attendance notes, you may complete examples of the forms used by family lawyers and the courts, such as a divorce application, a financial statement or an application concerning arrangements for a child.

You will also explore the communication, empathy, organisation and attention to detail needed when working in this sensitive area of law.

Industrial Disease

Find out how solicitors investigate claims involving illnesses and injuries caused by unsafe working conditions, including asbestos-related diseases and hearing loss.

Activities may include drafting part of a witness statement, researching former employers, reviewing an employment history and using reliable online sources to locate company information or investigate a fictional client’s possible exposure.

Personal Injury

Learn how lawyers help people who have been injured through accidents at work, road traffic collisions and other incidents.

You may review a fictional client’s information, complete a Claims Notification Form, prepare a schedule of financial losses and draft correspondence based on a medical report.

Wills & Probate

Explore how our team helps clients plan for the future, prepare wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, and administer estates following a death.

You will learn why accuracy, sensitivity and clear communication are so important in this area and complete tasks reflecting some of the responsibilities of a paralegal.

Realistic tasks in a supportive environment

You are not expected to arrive with detailed legal knowledge.

Our exercises are designed to introduce you to unfamiliar terminology and processes while helping you understand why accuracy, confidentiality and attention to detail matter in legal work.

The tasks use fictional scenarios, sample documents and appropriately redacted materials. Members of our team will be available to explain the exercises, answer questions and discuss your work with you.

Some activities can be challenging – and that is part of the experience. You may encounter unfamiliar documents, technical language or detailed information that requires careful reading. We encourage you to ask questions, make notes and learn from the guidance provided.

Skills you can develop:

A placement with Oliver & Co can help you develop:

written and verbal communication;

confidence in a professional environment;

legal and commercial awareness;

research skills;

analytical thinking;

attention to detail;

organisation and time management;

professional curiosity;

problem-solving; and

the confidence to ask thoughtful questions.

You will also gain a clearer understanding of the wide range of careers available within a law firm. A legal career does not follow one fixed route, and our colleagues will be happy to share their different experiences and perspectives with you.

What previous students have said...

“I have learnt so much beyond what was taught at university, and it will no doubt prove valuable in future endeavours.”

“I really enjoyed being in each department and witnessing first-hand the role of a solicitor.”

“The experience helped improve my attention to detail and made me value the importance of being precise and correct.”

“Coming into a law firm, meeting new people and asking questions improved my confidence.”

“The programme gave me an insight into daily tasks in a law firm and more direction on how to meet my goal of becoming a solicitor.”

Students have told us that they particularly value meeting our people, completing realistic tasks and experiencing the atmosphere of a working law firm.

Many have also said that the programme either confirmed their interest in law or helped them reconsider which area might suit them best. Both outcomes are valuable. Work experience is an opportunity to explore your options—not a test of whether you have already chosen your future career.

A typical placement

No two placements are exactly the same, but your experience could include:

Welcome and induction

You will be introduced to the firm, the programme and the professional standards expected during your placement, including confidentiality and responsible use of firm equipment and information.

Department introductions

You will meet colleagues from different teams and learn about the clients and matters they work with.

Practical activities

You will complete structured exercises using fictional scenarios, sample documents and research tasks.

Conversations with our people

Where possible, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with solicitors, trainees, paralegals and colleagues from across the firm. These one-to-one conversations give you the chance to ask questions, gain an insight into different areas of law, and hear first-hand about the varied career paths that have led our people into the legal profession.

Feedback and reflection

You’ll have opportunities to discuss your work, ask questions and reflect on the skills and areas of law you’ve encountered. At the end of your placement, we’ll invite you to share your feedback. We regularly review students’ comments and suggestions and use them to shape and improve our work experience programme for future participants.

Who should apply?

Our programme may be suitable for you if you:

are in university;

are studying law;

are curious about the work undertaken within a solicitors’ practice;

enjoy reading, research, writing or problem-solving;

would like to build confidence in a professional workplace;

are willing to ask questions and engage with unfamiliar tasks; and
can demonstrate maturity, reliability and respect for confidentiality.

Are you applying through one of our education partners?

Upton-by-Chester High School
If you attend Upton-by-Chester High School, you do not need to apply directly to us. Instead, please register your interest through your school, who will be able to provide further information about work experience opportunities.

University of Chester
We have an ongoing relationship with the University of Chester to support work placements for its students. To find out more about available opportunities and how to apply, please contact Faye Fletcher for guidance.

Before your placement

Successful applicants will receive further information about:

the dates and hours of the placement;

what to wear;

where to report on their first day;

travel and parking arrangements;

any documents or consent forms required;

confidentiality and acceptable-use requirements;

accessibility or reasonable-adjustment requests; and

what to bring with them.

Please let us know in advance if there are any reasonable adjustments that would help you participate fully in the programme.

Apply for work experience

Our placements are popular, and the number of places available are limited.

To apply, please email your CV and your CV in PDF format, to jobs@oliverandco.co.uk.

Your application should tell us:

why you are interested in Oliver & Co;

your experience so far;

what you hope to learn from the placement;

why you are interested in a career in law;

whether there are any particular areas of law that interest you; and

the dates on which you are available.

Application window: 1st November to 1st February

Placement dates: between May and August

Location: Douglas House, 117 Foregate Street, Chester, CH1 1HE

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need previous legal experience?

No. The programme is designed to introduce you to the work of a law firm. An interest in learning and a willingness to engage are more important than previous experience.

Will I work on real client matters?

The programme mainly uses fictional scenarios, sample documents and appropriately redacted information. This allows you to complete realistic activities while protecting client confidentiality.

Will I spend the whole placement with one department?

Usually, students spend time learning about several departments. The precise timetable will depend on the length of the placement and colleague availability.

Will I meet solicitors?

Absolutely. You will meet colleagues in different roles and areas of law. You will be encouraged to ask them about their work, career journeys and advice for someone considering a legal career.

What should I wear?

We recommend smart clothing. Full details will be provided before your placement begins.

Will I receive feedback?

Yes. Throughout your placement, you’ll have opportunities to discuss exercises with colleagues, ask questions and reflect on what you’ve learned. At the end of the programme, we’ll also ask you to share your feedback about your experience, which we use to continually review and improve our work experience programme for future students. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll receive a certificate recognising your participation.

Can reasonable adjustments be made?

Yes. Please tell us about any accessibility requirements or reasonable adjustments during the application process so that we can discuss how best to support you.

Start exploring your future in law

A work experience placement can help you understand what lawyers actually do, discover areas of law you may not have considered and decide whether a career in the legal profession is right for you.

At Oliver & Co, you will be welcomed into the firm, encouraged to ask questions and given meaningful activities that reflect the work undertaken by our teams.