When I was offered a traineeship with Drummond Miller back in 2015, I could not have been happier and, as this month marks the end of my first year, I am thrilled to say that my feelings have not changed.
I have spent the past year assisting with high value and complex claims in the Medical Negligence department. Last September, the department achieved top tier Legal 500 recognition and I feel privileged to have been able to learn from such highly-regarded lawyers. The year-long “seats” for trainees at Drummond Miller are useful as they enable us to become very familiar with different cases and clients, to gain more insight into the ongoing litigation and, generally, to feel more involved in the team.
My experience in the Medical Negligence department has been very rewarding, especially when fair settlements have been achieved or favourable judgements have been handed down by the Court of Session. It is really satisfying to see clients receive compensation which can go some way to improving the quality of their lives.
There is one memory in particular that stands out to me from the first week of my traineeship. When my predecessor was handing over to me, she casually mentioned that I would soon be appearing in court. That certainly caught my attention and I immediately asked whether that would be once I had settled in, perhaps in a few months’ time?! My colleague laughed and said that it would most likely be in a couple of weeks – at most! One week later, I found myself standing up in front of a Sheriff making my first appearance. It certainly was a challenge but an experience for which I am grateful and which I ultimately enjoyed. Since then, I have been making regular appearances in the Small Claims and Heritage courts – a responsibility that I share with the other first year trainee.
Another responsibility accorded to first year trainees is covering the court-run when the court-runner (who has responsibility for lodging all documents with the court and delivering papers to Counsel) is on holiday. During the peak of the Edinburgh Festivals, running (in heels!) through the crowds who are gathering to catch a glimpse of the latest fire-eater or juggler on the Royal Mile, whilst lugging several urgent Petitions, is certainly no mean feat! However, it has allowed me to fully understand the requirements that need to be fulfilled when drafting and lodging court documents and adhering to deadlines.
I look forward to beginning my second “seat” in the Immigration Department where I will have my own clients and files along with the increased responsibility that goes with it, whilst always having colleagues close at hand to supervise and advise. The Immigration Department at Drummond Miller is one of Scotland’s largest and most experienced Immigration teams and I am looking forward to learning from the experts!
I would highly recommend applying for a traineeship with Drummond Miller if you want a varied and interesting workload with increasing responsibility and, most importantly, want to work in a friendly and engaging environment.