Paralegal Review
at Irwin Mitchell
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Legal/Law
Bristol
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.1 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I work in the Court of Protection team assisting in managing client's assets who lack capacity to manage this themselves, but also with Trust clients and setting up fast-track Personal Injury Trusts. Deputy clients include setting up insurances, approving payments, property adaptations/purchases, therapies, rehabilitation etc.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
My programme finished in December 2020, this was delayed from finishing in August because of covid-19 which was a shame, but mainly out of anyone's hands. I enjoyed my programme for the most part and learnt a lot as well as developed lots of skils, however, communication could have been better throughout. Howver, my law teacher with CLS was very good, but she has since left. There was also very lengthy delays with completing my end-point assessments on the day at the test center because the system was not set up correctly which caused a lot of unnecessary stress, this was never fully addressed by CILEx.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt and developed many skills, including my attention to detail and becoming more proactive instead of reactive, my knowledge of the law has improved specifically relating to the Mental Capacity Act and Trusts, my communication, professionalism and team-work skills have developed.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
There was a clear timetable with teaching sessions and exams which helped me to plan revision etc. I much preferred having face-to-face teaching sessions as opposed to webinars which not everyone received as I think this is much more engaging and an easier way to learn.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
My employer is supportive on a day-to-day basis. My study days were flexible and I had study days when it came to my exams. It is not always the best at balancing workload when working only 4 days because of a study day and this can lead to being stressed and too exhausted to study on a study day, but this could have been helped with effective communication.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Study days are provided and can be flexible each work, but they like it to be the same each week which makes sense. It would be easier and less stressful if amount of working days per week were taken into account more when considering workload and capacity levels.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The exams and units that I completed in the apprenticeship were not specific to my department, however, it is quite a niche department and there are not units specific to this. My department incorporates lots of different aspects of the law, so it was helpful completing the units that I did. This also widened by knowledge hugely with client care etc.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
We have specific groups who arrange extra-curricular activities such as football, netball and social events. These are enjoyable and the office is friendly.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Irwin Mitchell to a friend?
Yes
Why?
For the most part, this is a great place to work, there are great benefits and progression can be discussed and worked towards. However, for my progression onto the next apprenticeship, this has been unnecessarily delayed due to changing the providers, I also made some suggestions to other progression routes such as the level 7 apprenticeship, but I could not see that this was not considered. But, I am grateful for the progression and my team is very friendly and helpful.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Irwin Mitchell?
Be open to constructive criticism and actively seek it, this will help you improve and develop. Be more proactive as opposed to reactive and actively request progression and chase for this if you do not receive updates.
