My experience
I studied my LLB Law degree at Southampton University, graduating in 2021. More recently I have completed my LPC with Msc at the University of Law, achieving a Distinction.
Having completed my first seat as a trainee solicitor in the Dispute Resolution department, I am now undertaking my second seat in the Tax & Estate Planning department.
Prior to joining Paris Smith I worked as a paralegal.
Insights from Kimberley Davies
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Kimberley Davies, Trainee Solicitor - Day in the life of
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Kimberley Davies, Trainee Solicitor - Day in the life of
My name is Kim and I'm a trainee in the Tax and Estate Planning Department at Paris Smith. So the day of a trainee in Tax and Estates is very varied. I attend a lot of client meetings, either in our offices or occasionally we'll attend clients at home. Following those meetings, I will draft their wills or their powers of attorney or whatever it is that they've asked us for assistance with.
I also assist fee earners with lifetime planning, so I will assist with drafted trust documentation or tax calculations for income tax or inheritance tax.
I'm a member of the charity committee here at Paris Smith, and every year Paris Smith picks a charity of the year, and the role of the charity committee is really to fundraise and raise as much money as we possibly can for that charity.
We run many events throughout the year. So for example, we run bake sales, charity runs, hikes, or general raffles throughout the office. We also support with individual colleagues that wish to do their own fundraising efforts. So for example, we have members of the team that are climbing Snowdon. Our managing partner is abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower, and we attend and show our support for all of these events.
As a trainee when you start in a new department you'll be assigned a buddy in that department. They're generally someone that has just qualified and they will assist you as well as your supervisor with any kind of day to day questions or any things you may wish to ask.
They're always kind of on hand should you need them. Paris Smith also offer a mentoring scheme. So you can sign up to have a mentor or to become a mentor. And these mentoring meetings have proved really invaluable to me. So I've met my mentor a few times and we've gone for coffee and cake, and it's just really helped to make me feel supported within the team and Paris Smith as a whole.
I enjoy the responsibility that trainees are given here at Paris Smith, trainees are given lots of responsibility to manage their own workload, and you get stuck in really quickly, but at the same time, you always feel supported.
I know that there is always someone on hand should I need them. So I think that Para Smith has the perfect balance between being given responsibility, but feeling supported at all times.