Our Insight Day at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors
On Tuesday 29th October, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors hosted a group of Catalyst mentees for a fantastic insight day to learn more about careers in law. Read on to hear more about the day from two of the attendees! On the 29th October, members of Catalyst Collective, including myself, went to Irwin Mitchell in Holborn in order to have an Insight day. Our day started with an introduction about Irwin Mitchell themselves, including learning about the members of their senior leadership team, and how all 6 of them (excluding group CEO Craig Marshall) are in charge of one of the various areas of law that Irwin Mitchell covers. We then got taken on a short tour around the offices, where we had the opportunity to see first-hand the different departments that each tackle different cases. We even had the luck of being there on the day of a bake sale, which was raising money for one of the 3 charities that Irwin Mitchell supports. After our tour and a short break, we heard from Leena and Charisse about medical negligence, and their journeys into Irwin Mitchell. Hearing both of their stories enabled me to really understand the different pathways in which you can make your way into law. Leena, having debated between journalism and law in her early years, is now a partner after working her way up all the way from associate. Charisse took a different route from Leena, and had taken the CILEX as an alternative. Both talks were very influential, as it showed that one doesn’t have to take the most common path into law – there are many alternatives which lead to amazing results! In the afternoon we split into 2 groups and carried out a debate regarding e-scooters, and whether they should remain or be rid of. Both groups were extremely passionate, and unfortunately for my group, there was only one winner – and it wasn’t us! The debate enabled us to extract information from multiple resources in order to create multiple arguments that could be used to our advantage. The debate finished, and we then heard from Angela Jackman, who is a KC – a barrister or solicitor who has been recognised for their excellent advocacy. She spoke to us about her journey and some incredibly influential cases she had succeeded in in the past. The main thing I learnt from this whole insight day, is that there isn’t just one pathway into the world of law. The people that kindly came in to share their experience, all got there in different ways – apprenticeships, training contracts, you name it! Taking a less traditional pathway can get you the same opportunities that a more known pathway into law can. You can also take time to learn what area of law you want to work in. There is an incredibly wide range of areas to choose from. Words by Christina, Year 13 On the 29th of October me and a group of girls made our way and participated in the Catalyst Collective: Irwin Mitchell Insight Day. Our day began with getting an overview of what we would be doing, which included hearing from staff about the different career journeys which led them to what they do today. After this, we began to get a detailed description of what Irwin Mitchell stands for. This included a tour of the office, which allowed us to ask different lawyers and staff within the firm what they specialise in, and how helping people within the law inspires them and enables them to think more intellectually about how other people’s situations can vary. After this, we heard from Leena and Charisse about the area of law that they specialise in: Medical Negligence. After a short lunch break, we were nicely led into a debate on E-Scooters, which gave us a chance to think intellectually with each other, using research and statistics in order to make a powerful and successful case. We then concluded the day with a compelling story from Angela Jackman KC (Hon) about her journey to the firm and the various achievements she gained along the way. This was fulfilling for all of us to hear, and most importantly it was encouraging to hear that one day all of us could achieve the same things. Going to the Irwin Insight Day made me aware of how many branches of law you are able to go into, and these are all equally rewarding in terms of whether you are personally helping a client, or helping businesses as a whole. Furthermore, as a woman of colour, Irwin Mitchell assured us multiple times that this would not put us at a disadvantage -only make us stronger throughout the process of becoming the lawyer that we want to be. Most importantly, it allowed me to learn just how important community is with your fellow lawyers, as well as your clients. Being truthful to them, and helping them in any way that we can is the way to know that you have gotten justice or clarity for the client. Overall, it was a brilliant day and a perfect overview of what goes on within a top law firm! Words by Claudia, Year 13 Thank you so much to the team at Irwin Mitchell for hosting us – the girls had a fabulous time and learnt so much!
Law Insight Day at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors
In October 2023, aspiring lawyers from across our mentoring programmes visited Irwin Mitchell Solicitors. The day was meticulously organised, featuring a series of engaging sessions designed to offer insights into the daily life of a lawyer. A huge thank you to Clemmie and the team at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors for hosting us. Here’s how two Catalyst mentees, Jemimah and Britnel, found the day: Jemimah, Year 12 Visiting Irwin Mitchell Solicitors was a transformative experience that opened my eyes to the world of law and left me inspired for the future. I signed up for the Irwin Mitchell Insight Day for a few reasons. I wanted to: 1. Immerse myself in a legal workplace. 2. Learn more about different routes into and roles available within a law firm. 3. Understand what a day in the life of a law firm looks like. Most importantly, I wanted to use this experience as a test to determine if law was my true calling! One highlight of the day was participating in a riveting debate on the regulation of and issues surrounding e-scooters. For the debate, we had to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to come up with points in favour or against the motion. I loved working collaboratively with my team, confidently presenting our ideas and arguments. Though the verdict was a draw, I’m convinced my team won! Another highlight was listening to a presentation by Angela Jackman KC, Partner at Irwin Mitchell and Windrush generation descendant who has achieved remarkable success in the legal field despite facing countless challenges. Her story was truly inspiring and I’m grateful to the Catalyst Collective for the opportunity to meet such an amazing woman! What did I learn from my time at Irwin Mitchell? One key takeaway was the flexibility and benefits of apprenticeships, which combine real work experience with theoretical learning at a local university. The revelation that apprenticeships allow you to make money without accumulating student loan debt and while gaining qualified lawyer status was enlightening. Hearing from current apprentices shattered myths and answered questions I’ve always had about doing an apprenticeship. As a result of this experience, I’m motivated to seek more work experience opportunities and explore both university and apprenticeship options. My trip to Irwin Mitchell has left me with a newfound determination to pursue my dreams. Whether that’s in law or another field, I can’t wait to see where the path ahead takes me. Britnel, Year 12 As I plan to pursue a career in the law in future, visiting Irwin Mitchell Solicitors seemed like a great place to start and it definitely lived up to expectations! At Irwin Mitchell, we met a number of talented employees including young people on their apprenticeship scheme. Through speaking with them, many of us came away inspired to seriously consider the option of apprenticeships. After going on a tour of the offices, we heard from solicitors from the human rights and financial departments about how their lives have been transformed working here. We also took part in a lively debate about whether e-scooters should be banned – leaving debaters on both sides curious to find out more! What stuck with me personally was an employee sharing her experience of handling an inquest and other cases. Another memorable moment was when another employee recounted how she successfully advocated in court for a Black boy to be able to wear cornrows at secondary school in Harrow. What an achievement! I learned a lot from my time at Irwin Mitchell. One thing I’m taking away from the experience is that even if you’re feeling unsure about your future, there’s always an end goal. It’s ok if things don’t always go as planned – sometimes a change in can lead to something better. Overall, visiting Irwin Mitchell reinforced that I do want to study law in the future and hopefully working there one day will be an option. Thank you so much Irwin Mitchell for having us!
