Our work experience programme is designed to provide students with a meaningful and worthwhile placement, giving them a real understanding of life in a law firm. Although we are only able to offer a small number of opportunities each year, each placement is structured to ensure participants can actively engage, learn, and gain practical insight into the legal profession.
Elizabeth’s reflections demonstrate the value of experiencing different aspects of law, and we are proud to support aspiring solicitors in exploring their career paths.
Elizabeth’s Work Experience
I’m Elizabeth, a second-year Modern Languages and Cultures student at Durham University. I plan to complete the PGDL and eventually qualify to be a solicitor. As a non-law student, the work experience programme at Oliver & Co was invaluable in helping me decide whether a career in law is for me and, more specifically, what areas of law I am interested in.
The week was incredibly varied, enabling me to gain a comprehensive understanding of what the firm does. I was lucky enough to shadow four departments, including Corporate & Commercial, Wills & Probate, Medical Negligence and Conveyancing.
Each day presented new and engaging tasks, from using the information from the Intellectual Property Office to advise a mock-client on a potential trademark application, to shadowing the process of taking on a new Medical Negligence claim. When completing tasks within the departments, friendly paralegal Alisha and legal assistants Liv, Meg and Tay were kind enough to answer any questions I had, making the experience insightfully immersive.
A key takeaway from my experience at Oliver & Co was the advantages of an employee-owned firm, both for the team and the clients. The office was unified and worked together with a common interest in achieving success for both their clients and the business they share. The opportunity to sit in on a client call solidified this dedication to client service, demonstrating the support, understanding and kindness required, particularly when working with individuals who need advice during distressing times, such as buying a property.
The highlight of my experience at Oliver & Co was undoubtedly the daily opportunities to have 1:1 sessions with members of the team at all stages of the legal pathway. I was able to talk to Kerry Goulden, Associate Director and Solicitor in the Medical Negligence department, who explained difficult legal concepts in an approachable and friendly way, making the information accessible to a non-law student. Emily Oliver gave an insightful 1:1 session on marketing, and trainee-solicitor Charlotte White was able to answer my burning questions regarding the application process, sharing her experience with assessment centres, interviews and life as a trainee in a new environment.
Ultimately, I am delighted to have had the opportunity to gain work experience in such a respected employee-owned firm, as it highlighted the innovative dynamic of working in an environment where everyone has a stake. I hope to bring the skills I learned from my time at Oliver & Co into the future, picking up on the excellent quality of client service. To anyone, from A-Level to post-grad, I would thoroughly recommend applying for the opportunity to complete work experience at Oliver & Co.
Apply to Our Work Experience Programme
Unfortunately we do only have a limited number of work experience places available each year but if you would like to be considered for the programme, please read more about it on our Careers page and follow the application process.
