Lily Hedgman: Trainee in the medical negligence department

I was drawn to applying for a training contract at Leigh Day because I wanted to work for a law firm that was committed to providing access to justice for all. It struck me that when I would read up on an interesting case that I had heard about in the news, more often than not I discovered it was a Leigh Day solicitor who had been instructed by the claimant. I was excited by the prospect of working for a firm that was not only helping individuals with their particular case, but was actively taking on ground-breaking work that could change the legal landscape moving forward for many vulnerable people in similar situations.

I am now three months in to my first seat in the clinical negligence department. I have been given a huge variety of work to get stuck into, from drafting instructions, undertaking legal research, and preparing for an inquest. I have also been able to meet clients and attend conferences with counsel and experts.

Alongside working on cases with my supervisor, I’ve also been able to get involved with fundraising events for three different charities. This has been a great way to get to know people both in my immediate department and in the firm as a whole. Everyone I’ve met has been so welcoming, helpful and clearly passionate about the ethos of the firm. This makes for an incredibly inspiring work environment and I would encourage anyone who shares a commitment to claimant law to consider applying to Leigh Day.