There are also a number of opportunities to get involved in “non-client” (or “non-chargeable”) work and some firms as part of their bonus/incentive policies even require their lawyers to work a certain number of “non-client” hours. This kind of work can be equally as (or even more) interesting and can help to fill downtime. In reality, you will likely have periods where you have no “chargeable” work to do, for instance if your team is not particularly busy or you are waiting to receive back comments on a particular piece of work. Below is a list of the types of “non-client” or “non-chargeable” work that you may be able to get involved in as a trainee.
Client Relationship/Business Development
Assisting with research for client pitches/preparing pitch documents; drafting client newsletters/preparing client relationship reports; producing presentations/hand-outs on topics of interest to clients; and attending client events.Business development: this essentially refers to time spent carrying out activities that are designed to strengthen relationships with clients or potential clients in order to win new instructions from existing clients and attract new clients to the firm.
Knowledge management
This includes preparing presentations on various “training” topics and delivering these to other trainees/fee-earners; preparing internal presentations/hand-outs on relevant areas of law; and helping to produce, amend or file standard form documents. Knowledge Management: firms tend to build up comprehensive pools of internal “knowledge”. This can include: template (or “standard form”) documents to use as the basis for drafting future documents; summaries and explanations of key cases, legislative provisions, legal guidance and changes in the law; and information on external advisers (including barristers and other professional services firms that the firm has engaged in the past).
Standard forms: these are template documents that are designed to provide a good starting point when drafting a new document. Firms tend to have comprehensive databases of “standard forms” for different types of documents (e.g. Sale and Purchase Agreements, Facility Agreements, Board Minutes etc.).
Training/presentations
Attending compulsory Professional Skills courses (required by the Solicitors’ Regulatory Authority) and compulsory/voluntary internal training sessions. Some teams also require their trainees to give a presentation (or multiple presentations) throughout the course of their time in the department.
Graduate recruitment events
This could include speaking to open day attendees/interns about life as a trainee at the firm (including appearing on a panel for Q&A sessions); running case studies and workshops for potential applicants; arranging and attending social events for interns; attending law fairs, university evening presentations and recruitment dinners; and contributing to internal focus groups on the firm’s marketing strategies.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Depending on the relationships and initiatives your firm has in place, this could include volunteering, for instance at legal advice centres, charity events etc.; mentoring students/school children, including providing application/interview advice and insights into a career as a lawyer, and helping with others’ personal development (through giving presentations, assisting with interactive exercises etc.); and pro bono work, including reviewing, drafting and negotiating documents on behalf of charities.
Admin
This could include providing fee updates to clients and drafting or checking bill narratives before bills are sent to clients, filing emails, updating calendar entries, submitting expense receipts, recording your time etc.
Note that our Training Contract Handbook provides a more comprehensive insight into what trainees do on a day-to-day basis, including example trainee worklogs.
