Gaining real world legal skills at Harrowells

By Mia Katib

I’m entering my final year of Law at the University of Liverpool, and this summer I was eager to gain more practical experience. Harrowells kindly welcomed me back for a week in both their Private Client and Personal Injury departments—a return visit after spending time with them in previous summers'.

I spent my first week with the Private Client team.

Day one
I was greeted by Ed, the Head of Department, who gave me a tour and introduced me to the team, immediately making me feel welcome. Danielle, a solicitor, set me a research task on deputyship orders and asked me to apply it to a specific case. It was a great way to learn something new and put it into practice, and her constructive feedback was invaluable. I also took notes during a client meeting and produced a written summary.

Day two
I attended a meeting with Ed about the initial drafting of a complex Will. He walked me through key considerations and answered all my questions. Danielle asked me to research Lasting Powers of Attorney and draft a letter of client questions, while Lucy, a trainee solicitor, demonstrated how an LPA is prepared. Sitting with Lucy throughout the week gave me a real insight into life as a trainee—she was incredibly encouraging and shared how positive her own experience at Harrowells has been.

Day three
Ben, a solicitor, asked me to research and draft an affidavit for a torn Will—something completely new to me and especially enjoyable. His feedback helped me refine my draft and deepen my understanding.

Day four
I accompanied Danielle to a Will signing, took detailed notes, and provided a summary afterward. I also drafted an email to a client explaining the process for transferring vehicle ownership, which helped develop my professional communication skills.

Day five
My final day included researching and reporting on the Non-Contentious Probate Rules. Ben kindly talked me through any areas needing clarification. I also spoke with Harry, a trainee, who offered valuable advice and shared his own experience at Harrowells.

In my second week at Harrowells, I moved on to spend time within the Personal Injury department

Day one
Richard, the Head of Department, welcomed me and provided a case file of medical records to summarise, then asked for my assessment of the potential claim value. It was my first time valuing a claim and his feedback was extremely helpful.

Day two
Aimee, a solicitor, gave me a potential negligence claim to review, asking me to consider both liability and value, which built on the previous day’s work. I also summarised another case and assessed a further potential claim. Later, I joined Aimee for a telephone meeting on an ongoing case, where she answered all my questions.

Day three
Emily, a paralegal, involved me in drafting the Complex Case Plan (CCP) for a claim I had reviewed earlier. Seeing how a CCP is prepared highlighted its importance in managing a case. Emily also asked me to review meeting notes and draft follow-up questions for the next day’s call.

Day four
I attended that call, took notes, and saw how my preparation fed directly into the discussion.

Overall experience

My time at Harrowells has been invaluable. Working across both departments gave me a clear understanding of day-to-day practice. Private Client work sharpened my client-communication and professional skills, while Personal Injury strengthened my analytical abilities.

I’m truly grateful to everyone at Harrowells for making the experience so engaging and positive. The guidance, encouragement, and constructive feedback I received will be invaluable as I begin my final year of study.