A Day in the Life of Jess Woodrow - Trainee Solicitor

Departments to date: High Net Worth and International, Corporate, Real Estate

University: The University of Exeter

Degree: Law LLB (First)

8am - Commute: I take the tube to London Blackfriars and enjoy the short walk to our office. It’s a great way to get some fresh air and steps in before the working day begins.

8.40am – Arrive and Settle In: I arrive at the office and make my way to my desk. As we work flexibly at Irwin Mitchell, we need to book our desks when we go into the office. My team have booked our desks in advance to ensure we can all sit together to ensure collaborative working.

8.45am – Morning Check-In: I review my emails and Microsoft Teams messages to identify any urgent tasks for the day. This morning, I’ve been asked to assist with the urgent appointment of new directors for a client. I’ll be drafting the necessary board minutes and Companies House forms to support the change.

9am – Team Meeting: I join the London Corporate team’s weekly meeting. Each week has a different focus—this time, our Knowledge team presented updates on recent developments in corporate law, including the introduction of compulsory director verification under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. These sessions are invaluable for staying current with legislative changes and understanding their practical impact on our clients.

9:30am – Drafting Task: I begin drafting the board minutes and Companies House forms required for the director appointments. I cross-reference the company’s articles of association and previous filings to ensure the documents are accurate and compliant. Once complete, I send the drafts to the client for review and approval.

10:30am – Coffee Break: I take a short break with fellow trainees and head to the coffee machine. It’s a great opportunity to catch up and hear about their experiences across different departments, which helps broaden my understanding of the firm’s work.

11am – Client Call: A Partner invites me to join an initial client call via Teams. We speak with an individual who is in dispute with his business partner and is seeking advice on winding down their partnership amicably. After the call, I draft an attendance note and prepare a follow-up email requesting a copy of the partnership agreement and outlining the next steps. The Partner encourages me to send the email directly to the client, which is a great opportunity to take ownership and build client communication skills.

12:30pm – Lunch and Gym Session: Lunch! I head to the gym located in the basement of our London office, which offers complimentary weekly classes. This week’s session is a full-body build class, which I attend with a few colleagues. It’s a great way to recharge and break up the day with something active and social.

1:30pm – Document Review: Back at my desk, I review a client’s Articles of Association. The client is transitioning to a not-for-profit model and wants to update their articles to reflect their new objectives. I prepare a mark-up of the current Articles, highlighting clauses that may need amending or adding in, and send it to my supervisor. I also schedule time in their calendar to go through the document together, as its 25 pages long and will require detailed discussion.

3pm – Research Task: Some colleagues and I are acting on the sale of a private limited company. I’m asked to research the effectiveness of ‘Drag Along’ provisions in a company’s Articles of Association. These clauses allow majority shareholders to compel minority shareholders to sell their shares during a business sale. I consult LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Practical Law, and summarise my findings in a concise email to my colleague, including practical considerations and recent case law

5.00pm – End-of-Day Wrap Up: I go through my inbox to ensure I have completed everything that I needed to for the day and update my to-do list ready for tomorrow. I also check in with my supervisor to ensure there is nothing I can support him on before finishing for the day.

5:45pm – Networking Event: I head out to a networking event hosted by the Enterprise and Investment Scheme Association, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes funding for SMEs. Irwin Mitchell is a member of the association, and the event provides a great opportunity to meet other corporate lawyers and junior professionals over drinks, share insights, and build connections.