HCR Spark prize winner experiences life in law

HCR Spark is an inspiring initiative designed to support and encourage young people in Herefordshire and the Wye Valley who are considering a career in the legal profession.

One of this year’s winners, Meg Sheeran from Hereford Sixth Form College, recently completed a week-long work experience placement at our Hereford office as part of her prize.

Here, Meg shares her reflections on what she learned from spending time with teams across the business.

A closer look at daily life in a law firm

As an A-level student, I was unsure of what to expect coming into a placement without having studied law in any detail before, but after having spent a week with a range of departments, I have learnt about the realities of a career in law and now have valuable knowledge in a range of different areas.

During my time at HCR Law, I had the privilege of meeting with experts in a range of fields, which gave me a deeper insight into how different types of law work and the issues they deal with. Just some of the things I have learnt include how to draft a lasting power of attorney document, the details of child arrangements orders and the potential implications of the proposed immigration system changes.

The highlight of my week was spending a morning shadowing a judge in the family court, where I gained valuable insight into how the changes to the court system are working in practice, as well as the various kinds of hearings and when it is appropriate to issue injunctions and undertakings.

I am shocked by how much I was able to learn within a week, as I now have an understanding of a range of topics I had never considered before, such as the process involved in the sale of a house and how commercial disputes are dealt with in the court system.

One of my biggest realisations in my short time at HCR was that no matter what type of law you go into, you will always be challenged, rewarded and have a close relationship with the team around you. It is clear that law has something for everyone and being able to have a career that allows you to have an impact on people’s lives while still regularly encountering engaging challenges is a privilege.

I have received valuable advice that has helped me to consider where to go next with my education and how to take steps that will lead me to a career in law, while also being shown the skills that are required to be a successful lawyer. I will return to my studies with a much greater understanding of the realities of this job, as well as a clearer idea of the type of law that I could see myself doing in the future.

I am incredibly grateful to the whole team at HCR for welcoming me and giving me such a valuable taster of what it is like to work in a firm like this. Between observations, working on case studies and my time in court, I have had a variety of engaging experiences which had clearly been thoroughly planned for my benefit. I could not have hoped for a better experience and hope to return one day!