Apprentice Paralegal Review
at Irwin Mitchell
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Legal/Law
Southampton
Review Submitted: January 2022
Overall Rating
2.8 /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!
2/5
-
Overview of Role
3/5
-
Skills Development
2.6/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
Lots of admin style work.
Generating letters, emails, sometimes making chaser phone calls mostly to medical practices such as GP surgeries or hospitals. Not often interacting with the client.
Making sure all systems are updated.
Time recording every second of every day.
Lots of training available often which is helpful.
Generating letters, emails, sometimes making chaser phone calls mostly to medical practices such as GP surgeries or hospitals. Not often interacting with the client.
Making sure all systems are updated.
Time recording every second of every day.
Lots of training available often which is helpful.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
1/5
Unfortunately, I really really wish I could enjoy it but I just don't feel it right now. I think there are a few juniors in my team who support me so well, maybe the odd few other staff too. However, sadly I definitely feel a lack of support or like I am bothering people/ made to feel silly when I ask questions.
On a positive not I do not think all of my other fellow apprentices have felt this. I really do wish I felt accepted and supported by my immediate team, however a few comments have also made me feel that they do not take me seriously as I have not attended university.
On a positive not I do not think all of my other fellow apprentices have felt this. I really do wish I felt accepted and supported by my immediate team, however a few comments have also made me feel that they do not take me seriously as I have not attended university.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
Yes lots of skills with different systems online, developing my communicayion skills and being proffessional all-round.
I have picked up lots of knowledge within my practice area and I actually understand how solicitors actually work now. I feel my expectations were different before I started for sure.
I have learnt a lot but unfortunately cannot enjoy it.
I have picked up lots of knowledge within my practice area and I actually understand how solicitors actually work now. I feel my expectations were different before I started for sure.
I have learnt a lot but unfortunately cannot enjoy it.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Lots of confusion at the start between training provider, apprentices and firm-but getting better.
I still find training provider work confusing as we use multiple systems so it's hard to keep track of what I need to do. I rely on other apprentices for most guidance as we discuss in our own group chat.
Monthly 1 to 1s with my line manager- organised.
I still find training provider work confusing as we use multiple systems so it's hard to keep track of what I need to do. I rely on other apprentices for most guidance as we discuss in our own group chat.
Monthly 1 to 1s with my line manager- organised.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
Manager changes every day- but I have never ever felt fully supported and accepted. Feels like I am a burden. Sometimes lots of feedback/ suggestions on how to improve my work but she has never never acknowledged anything I have done well.
HR team- no contact really at all.
Mentor/ buddy- 10/10 amazing. So helpful and totally understands me as she was in my position a few years back.
General attitude- medium to low support. Despite my buddy/ mentor, and a couple of other junior staff, I feel unsupported.
HR team- no contact really at all.
Mentor/ buddy- 10/10 amazing. So helpful and totally understands me as she was in my position a few years back.
General attitude- medium to low support. Despite my buddy/ mentor, and a couple of other junior staff, I feel unsupported.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
When we have review sessions I find my coach a lot more helpful however, so far it has varied MASSIVELY each time. Sometimes she is extremely helpful, however sometimes she is very confusing and uncertain. I think all of my fellow apprentices with the same coach will all agree on that. I have a review soon, but last time we spoke she was very helpful.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
I don't realy feel like my training work links to my role much at all if I am honest. For example, in our evidence logs for each module we are often told we can't use certain evidence or we have to do things outside of our role in order to provide evidence. If the qualification and the role matched perfectly then surely everything would be suitable evidence because it would link?
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Not so much now because of COVID, however I think before there was. I have heard that my office had a choir and there are often emails from welfare people about painting/ drawing clubs remotely- but I think there would be a lot more if there were no restrictions/ no COVID.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Irwin Mitchell to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I genuinely think the company over all is great- takes care of staff, flexible, understanding, etc. However, speaking from personal experience within my office I definitely would not.
I think the company is amazing I was so proud I got a job with IM, which is why it's even more disappointing that I have had such a bad experience in my office...
I think the company is amazing I was so proud I got a job with IM, which is why it's even more disappointing that I have had such a bad experience in my office...
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Irwin Mitchell?
I would say do extremely thorough research on the exact job role.
I'd alsosay you will definitely be more valued/ taken more seriously if you have been to university.
Also, try to make the most of the people around you at similar levels as you as those are the people who will be your support network.
I'd alsosay you will definitely be more valued/ taken more seriously if you have been to university.
Also, try to make the most of the people around you at similar levels as you as those are the people who will be your support network.
