'Making a positive difference to people's lives': My traineeship with Digby Brown

I started with Digby Brown as a paralegal before beginning my traineeship in March 2021.

This was just after the last ‘lockdown’ which meant I was beginning my new role working remotely and just like many others, I found this challenging. However, my colleagues couldn’t have been more welcoming and reassuring. Everyone was more than happy to go out of their way to help and work together.

Likewise, everyone values the contributions you can bring to help resolve issues. We very much work as One Team and we understand the importance of developing skills and learning from one another.

Learning from the ‘best of the best’

I feel privileged and reassured to work alongside solicitors who are experts in the field of personal injury every day. You too will find yourself working under and learning from, the ‘best of the best’.

Working for the most recognisable name in personal injury is always an advantage. We successfully settle hundreds, if not, thousands of cases per year, bringing a sense of closure to clients who have been injured through no fault of their own. Being such a large and successful firm, we have the resources to bring access to justice for people across Scotland.

However, a piece of advice for the more modest applicants - be prepared for people repeating Digby Browns motto “if it matters to you, it matter’s to Digby Brown”!

The job is never boring

The role of a trainee within Digby Brown is varied. You will have responsibility for your own caseload but will also help solicitors in other cases. Each working day is different and brings its own distinctive learning opportunities.

In the same way, each case is unique and has its own nuance. Working with colleagues, you will have the opportunity to contribute to high-profile and complex personal injury cases. It is rewarding to see how your work can play a part in the progression and conclusion of these cases.

Personal injury is an area of law that is ever-changing and requires continual learning. As a litigation firm you will have the opportunity to:

• Attend court and learn from highly skilled advocates
• Observe and come to know the processes of the Court to develop your own advocacy skills.

For me personally, I always wanted to be a ‘trial lawyer’. I enjoy the buzz and excitement of being in the courtroom. While perhaps not as dramatic as the film and tv depictions, it is amazing to see the principles of law being debated by both parties as well as observing first-hand, the process by which judgements are laid down.

Dealing with clients

With your own casework, you will deal with a range of diverse clients that come from all walks of life and backgrounds.

As a trainee, you will come to know clients, understand them and successfully manage their cases. It is a very social job and I feel that there is a deeply human element to the role. With the end of COVID-19 restrictions there is now a greater opportunity to meet clients in person and this is something I look forward to.

Not the standard 9-to-5

The work that we do is challenging, but it is also profoundly captivating and meaningful. Prior to joining the firm, I was a bartender. While my previous job required the same social skills, albeit with a different application, I feel that my job at Digby Brown allows me to make more of a positive impact on the lives of others.

In particular, working in personal injury, you come to appreciate the sometimes devastating effects that an accident can have on people and their families. However, it is always satisfying to learn that following the conclusion of a case, your work has made a positive difference to a client and can bring a sense of closure to them.

Conor McKee

First Year Trainee, Glasgow