Dylan Birch’s Journey: An Internship Inside a Fast-Growing Law Firm
Before my time at Adam Benedict, I had limited exposure to careers in law. Having graduated without a law degree and entering the construction industry following university, I had always thought about becoming a solicitor but wanted first-hand experience to understand how solicitors and law firms operate. During this internship, I truly gained this experience. I undertook a substantial amount of drafting, research and other legal tasks, genuinely contributing to the firm’s work, alongside a broader exposure to the business development function of a law firm. The team at Adam Benedict were incredibly welcoming and helpful, and every expectation I held prior to the internship was undoubtedly exceeded.
Throughout the two weeks of the internship, I undertook several drafting tasks which developed my legal written communication skills and impacted current matters of the firm. My first task was drafting a letter before claim concerning a faulty product dispute, and I drafted numerous others over the period of the internship for a variety of clients. Alongside letters, I drafted a settlement agreement between two parties concerning outstanding debt and the waiving of any further legal action. Outside of litigation, I drafted client communications to HMRC regarding corporate restructuring. This exposure not only demonstrated the importance of succinct and diligence in drafting and improved the quality of my drafting ability, but also established the nuances between drafting for complex, protracted cases, and ad hoc, time-sensitive matters.
Alongside drafting, I was tasked with several research projects, detailing the practical application of legal research to meet client demands. I was exposed to a multitude of different matters, from advising on next steps regarding a contentious probate, to expanding director insolvency questionnaires and advising a senior associate on how a client may proceed with property transactions within the bounds of real estate law. I also co-authored an article discussing the impact of financial distress and governance decisions on football clubs and the far-reaching implications on stakeholders with two of the firm’s solicitors, Harrison Carr and Marco Difato. Each of these tasks improved my research skills further and illustrated how legal research operates to meet client demands and to further business development in the case of published articles.
Separate from direct legal skills and tasks, the firm actively encouraged my attendance at events away from the desk. I was invited to take minutes alongside senior associate Grace Jenkins on an injunction at the Royal Courts of Justice and contributed to the progression of litigation by drafting post-judgment actions. Further, I was invited to attend a variety of networking events, including the 22nd Annual Law Seminar at the National Liberal House and an event with 36 Group chambers. This was another unique aspect of the internship; understanding that associates must assist with business development and how encouraging the team were at involving interns with these events. Indeed, this also demonstrated how crucial relationships and networking is for firms.
My time at Adam Benedict was ultimately a holistic exposure to the daily responsibilities associates undertake at a growing law firm. I performed drafting and research tasks, which strengthened my legal writing and analytical skills, whilst also contributing to actual matters across the firm’s corporate, commercial, and litigation practices. Alongside legal work, I was exposed to the business development and networking side of the company, reinforcing the idea that firm growth rests on the teamwork and responsibility of all staff. Indeed, I doubt whether many internships offer the level of responsibility and encouragement that the team at Adam Benedict do. This internship truly demonstrated the dynamism inherent in a growing firm and affirmed that becoming a solicitor demands not only talent and conscientiousness, but also the calibre consistently demonstrated by the team at Adam Benedict.
Written by Intern, Dylan Birch
