Small Firm, Big Impact: Reflections of a Peters May Paralegal
Joining Peters May a year ago has been an incredibly enriching experience, offering considerable insight into the legal profession and family law. As my time here draws to a close and I prepare for the next stage of my legal journey - pupillage at 1 Kings Bench Walk – I have come to appreciate the unique benefits of training in a small firm.
Peters May LLP, a boutique firm founded six years ago by Jessica May and Juliette Peters, offers a bespoke legal service. The firm combines the collective expertise of highly skilled lawyers with a tailored approach that is both flexible and responsive to individual client needs. During my tenure, our team comprised five members: two partners, two solicitors, and one paralegal (me!).
This collaborative model not only provides significant advantages for clients but also serves as an exceptional foundation for a legal career. In this blog, I will explore some of those benefits, highlighting how the experience gained working in a small team can be invaluable for a young lawyer, like me, in their early years of practice.
Hands-On Experience
Training at a small firm has provided a solid foundation in understanding the legal process. I’ve become well-acquainted with various court forms and procedures, providing some much-needed familiarity as I embark on pupillage. However, my experience extends far beyond these basics. From the outset, I’ve been directly involved with clients and consistently engaged in fee-earning work.
My lower hourly rate offers flexibility: I can support solicitors in their cases, ensuring efficient resource allocation, while also taking on a more significant role in cases where clients aim to keep costs down. This hands-on involvement has given me a comprehensive understanding of legal tasks and the confidence to regularly take initiative.
Working in a small firm has exposed me to an array of cases including High Court children proceedings, multi-million-pound postnuptial agreements, and cases involving complex assets with international elements. This breadth of experience has been both challenging and rewarding.
Skills Development
The skills I have gained in this role have been numerous. The close-knit structure of the firm allows us to understand one another’s cases and regularly exchange ideas. As a result of this collaborative environment, I have been exposed to fresh perspectives, which has greatly enhanced my legal problem-solving abilities.
Much of my learning has been on-the-job, encountering scenarios for the first time and working through them under supervision. Tasks that once seemed daunting have become routine and playing a material role in the resolution of clients’ matters has been very rewarding.
Direct client interaction has been another key aspect of my role as solicitors interact with clients day-to-day. This regular engagement with clients has both honed my legal skills and deepened my understanding of client needs, preparing me well for a future at the Bar.
High Quality Supervision
I have greatly benefited from the high-quality supervision at Peters May. At a senior end, I have had the benefit of seeing Jessica and Juliette’s combined experience in approaching complex legal problems and providing clients with clear and measured advice. On a junior level working with Benjamin and Francesca has been equally enriching. Both have consistently provided relevant and practical guidance in navigating legal issues and procedures, providing reassurance and support as I learned and grew in my role.
The ‘Other Side’
Experiencing the ‘other side’ of case preparation has provided an important perspective as I begin my career. Understanding the detailed steps and work involved in developing a case before a brief reaches a barrister has been fascinating.
Whilst at Peters May, I have had the opportunity to witness a variety of proceedings, including numerous court hearings, private FDRs and arbitrations. I have also been fortunate enough to see outstanding advocacy firsthand, which has been very beneficial in preparing me for the courtroom and allowed me to forge my own relationships with barristers whom I will likely encounter in my practice. Further, the firm has a strong track record of hiring aspiring barristers as paralegals. Their advice has been invaluable as I prepare for the next step in my career. As such, being able to experience the ‘other side’ at Peters May has given me considerable insight into life at the Bar.
Concluding thoughts
Ultimately, my time at Peters May has been incredibly rewarding. Working at a small law firm has offered considerable exposure and a thorough understanding of family law and the legal process. Whilst I am very sad to leave, I am confident that this experience has equipped me well for my next stage. I am very excited to begin my pupillage at 1 King’s Bench Walk this October!
