In this article, we shine the spotlight on one of our Solicitors, Arpan Pooni.
Arpan talks about a typical day as a solicitor at Lamb Brooks; discussing the experiences and opportunities which she may be exposed to.
Arpan joined the firm in May 2022 as a Trainee Solicitor. Following her two years of training with the firm, Arpan qualified into the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury departments as a newly qualified Solicitor. Arpan graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2018 with a first-class honours degree and went on to complete the Legal Practice Course in 2019.
What a Typical Day Might Look Like for Arpan
No day is the same as a solicitor; you never know what will crop up. That keeps things interesting but also means that you must be adaptable and respond pragmatically to changing circumstances.
8:45 – I start my day by catching up with my team before checking my emails. Each morning, I plan my day ahead by listing key tasks which I need to action. I action tasks in priority order, and I refer to my spreadsheet of ongoing matters to keep an eye on any upcoming deadlines. This helps me to manage my caseload and to ensure that I progress matters in a timely manner. As a newly qualified solicitor in the team, I am gradually building my own caseload whilst I assist my Heads of Departments on other complex and high-value claims.
9:00 – I spend the first hour of my workday responding to emails and updating clients. This may include a telephone call to a client to discuss the progress of their claim and to obtain further information to enable me to consider the next steps of the claim. I ensure that I break down any legal jargon when communicating with clients and take into consideration their personal circumstances and any vulnerabilities. I also correspond with defendants, GPs and hospitals to ensure that I have all the information to progress with the claim.
10:00 – I typically spend my mornings focusing on any drafting tasks. Today I am drafting a letter of claim relating to delayed medical treatment. It is important that I clearly state the precise nature of the allegations and the extent of the symptoms that my client has experienced within this letter. I also use this time to review the file and consider the prospects of the claim and whether any factors have changed. Using the firm’s extensive research tools, I conduct some research to assist with any drafting tasks. This may involve researching changes in legislation or a particular treatment pathway. As each case is unique and the law is constantly evolving, it is important that I continue to develop my legal understanding as this will help me gather relevant information and precedents to support a client’s claim.
12:00 – As a member of the Lamb Brooks’ Social Committee, I attend the team meeting to plan upcoming events for the year. We have successfully organised several internal events so far including the end of financial year drinks and awards, sip and paint, and lunchtime pizza. We encourage regular social events and engagements, and it is safe to say that we enjoy socialising with each other just as much as we do working together. Keep an eye out on our LinkedIn page to see what we are up to next!
13:00 – After a bite to eat, I head towards the park for a lunchtime walk with my colleagues. This is the best way to get out of the office and enjoy some fresh air. I recently completed the LawNet Challenge, and I am now planning my next hike!
14:00 – I use this time to contact new enquiries. At the firm, we receive new enquiries via email, telephone and in-person. These discussions serve as an opportunity to obtain facts of the potential claim, assess the strength, answer questions and advise potential clients on their legal options.
15:00 - I recently received my client’s medical report following their medical assessment with an expert. This claim relates to the injuries that my client suffered as a result of a road traffic accident. I use this time to carefully review the report and consider the expert’s opinion on the client’s presenting condition, capacity for work and the prognosis given. As the claim is now progressing, I discuss this further with my Head of Department and consider the appropriate next steps. I prepare an email to the client summarising the expert’s findings and attach the report for their comments.
16:00 – I spend the remainder of the day reviewing my client’s medical records to assess the details of their claim. This is a vital step in building a robust clinical negligence claim as the records will provide crucial evidence regarding the care and treatment provided to my client, the healthcare professionals involved and the impact of the alleged negligence. As there are a large number of records, I diarise to continue with my review the next day.
17:00 – 17:15 – I start to wind down for the end of the day and respond to emails which are in my inbox. I use this time to update my to-do list and check which tasks are outstanding.
I usually go to the gym after work and on a Thursday, I switch this to a yoga class. I arrive home for around 19:00 and start preparing dinner before spending the rest of the evening watching a thrilling Netflix series.
Work-life balance and well-being are extremely important, and I am fortunate that my firm values this so much. Being a solicitor can be incredibly stressful at times and we deal with emotional and, in some cases, traumatic cases. It is so important that we are supported and can talk about our well-being. If we look after ourselves, we can do a better job for our clients.
Do you enjoy being a Solicitor?
I love being a solicitor. Every day is different, and the work is incredibly interesting.
Have you known from a young age that you wanted to become a solicitor?
I knew I wanted to be a solicitor from a young age, and I started exploring this when I studied for my A-Levels. After my own research and work experience, I knew I wanted to pursue this further.
Before your Training Contract did you have an idea of which area of law you would like to qualify into?
It was during my training contract with the firm that I decided that I wanted to qualify into the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury departments. I thoroughly enjoyed my seat, and I had significant exposure to a variety of claims by working closely with the team. It was a great learning experience, and I have been afforded many great opportunities at Lamb Brooks.
What 3 skills do you think are needed to shine as a solicitor?
- Attention to detail
- Organisation
- Initiative