Adam is a Real Estate Finance Solicitor at Fieldfisher LLP in Manchester and also sits on the National Executive Committee of the Law Society's Junior Lawyers Division.
How have you found the period since lockdown started?
I have found it strange, as I think most people have. Although the longer the measures have been in place, the more normal it has become. It took me a little while to get used to at first but now I feel comfortable working from home and I don't think it has had much effect on my ability to work or productivity.
The firm have been fantastic in ensuring the staff have all the equipment we have needed, such as extra monitors, work chairs and printers. Despite this, as my firm is now allowing a limited amount of people back into the office, I have been taking advantage of going into work as I still find it easier to work and concentrate being in an office environment.
The additional desk space, professional setting and resources are all things that I would struggle to obtain at home. It is of course a matter of personal preference, but as I live in the city centre, I have had the option available to me. Working from the office again as also meant I can switch off once I've left the office. I did struggle at the start of lockdown as my office was essentially my front room.
Can you tell us a bit about your background, and your role at Fieldfisher?
I am an associate solicitor at Fieldfisher, working in the Real Estate Finance department in Manchester. I moved to Fieldfisher upon qualification in 2016 and have been here since.
What’s the best part of your job?
I enjoy working closely with clients on transactions. There will often be a complexity or issue on each matter which requires finding either a legal or commercial workaround. I find working with other solicitors and my clients satisfying, especially upon completion of a transaction.
If you hadn’t been a solicitor, what would you have done?
As sad as it sounds, I would probably have still worked in finance, whether that be as an accountant, an economist or a financial advisor. I just find it really interesting and a constant source of new things to learn about and retain my interest. There are so many different elements to it, it is difficult to get bored learning.
You sit on the National Executive Committee of the (JLD), what does that involve?
The Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) of The Law Society is a community which provides support to junior lawyers across England and Wales. With over 70,000 members it is the largest community within the Law Society. The Executive committee is made up of 10 elected members and we meet monthly to campaign on key issues affecting junior lawyers, organise national events as well as provide information, advice and support for those who need it.
What’s the mood of the membership at the moment?
Positive on the whole. I believe as a committee we have tried to get as much information to our junior members as we can. In addition, we have tried to listen carefully to their concerns and the issues they are facing such as furloughing or, in some instances, redundancies. There is inevitably a general feeling of apprehension at this time as there has been a seismic shift in the economy and everybody's normal way of life.
Looking at the positives though, it has shown that the legal sector is dynamic when it comes to adapting to change. A lot of the steps firms are taking with facilitating working from home goes to show how flexible the profession can be, despite sometimes being seen as slow to adapt.
As we come out of lockdown and into the ‘new normal’, what’s the main challenge for junior lawyers?
As we now slowly move away from lockdown and the initial spike of the pandemic, I think the biggest challenge will be an economic one. The knock on effects to the economy are not yet known but it is expected there will be a recession. In the coming months, I would expect to see law firms either reducing or deferring their number of trainee vacancies available. This will end up intensifying an already hugely fierce competition for training contracts.
What advice can you give junior lawyers looking to secure a training contract?
It is important to persevere. If you are committed to becoming a solicitor, you cannot be disheartened or discouraged by rejection or a more competitive environment. What is required is a period of reflection and a recalibration of the timescales as to when you will hit your goals. It may take longer, but provided you don't stop trying, it will happen for you.
What opportunities can you see for junior lawyers?
Whilst some areas of law are likely to see a reduction of instructions, other areas will see a spike in work being available such as Litigation, Insolvency and Family. It is important during this period to understand which areas you may be interested in working in as it will allow you time to prepare suitably to the sector and types of firms you apply to. By knowing the difficulties faced by different firms and practice areas, you can adapt your expectations and skill sets accordingly.
What have you missed about being in an office environment?
Seeing my colleagues again and team socials. As I've said, at the moment I am lucky enough to be able to go in the office, but only a certain amount of people are allowed to do so due to the current government restrictions. This has meant I haven't seen some of my teammates since March. We speak regularly on video calls and emails but there is no substitute for seeing people in the office and being able to speak and socialise with them. I'm looking forward to the first team social once everyone is back, but I can't see it happing for a while.
Looking longer term, what do you think the biggest change will be working life?
I think is has permanently brought the prospect of flexible working onto the agenda. Without doubt the new normal will include a much more relaxed attitude to flexible working hours and working from home. Once offices are back open, I suspect there will be less of a need for people to be in the office 5 days a week. Several firms before lockdown were already moving in this direction, but this has certainly expedited the process. The flexibility for junior lawyers will have perks such as spending less time commuting into the office, especially in London. It does of course have some drawbacks, such as junior lawyers potentially missing out on the social elements of the office and learning from listening and talking to those around them.
During the pandemic, have you managed to find some personal positives?
I think most people have found this to be a good time to reflect. Without having most of the usual distractions in life such as going out to bars, restaurants, gigs or socialising in groups, I think a lot of people have had the chance to slow down and take stock. As lawyers, there is always a feeling of being busy and not having enough time.
The lockdown has meant for most, there isn't a large commute, that there aren’t any networking events or meetings to attend. This additional time has been good for a little self-reflection and chance to focus on things which matter most. I also think as and when things do return back to normal, people will appreciate the ability to socialise and meet with friends and family.
When you are comfortable to, what is the first restaurant you’ll visit?
There is a fantastic Sushi restaurant in Manchester. I'll be sure to visit there once they open up their doors again.
