We are pleased to announce that Stephen Parker has joined our team at Miller Samuel Hill Brown as a Trainee Solicitor. Recently, we had the chance to sit down with Stephen to discuss his new role and experiences thus far.
Can you describe your overall experience during your first month at Miller Samuel Hill Brown?
The first month of my traineeship with MSHB has been fast-paced and filled with invaluable experience. The firm welcomed me with a four-day induction period, immediately followed by meetings where I was tasked with taking notes. I really appreciated the way the firm provided me with face-to-face experience with clients so early in my traineeship. At the end of my first week, the firm treated me to a delicious lunch at Sugo, which was a perfect opportunity to meet the other trainees and solicitors. My first seat is in Commercial Property where I have gained experience drafting discharges, standard securities, leases, notices to quit and minutes of agreement. I have also been trusted to submit LBTT returns, attend meetings, order searches, register deeds and respond to new enquiries.
I feel at this stage that I have developed a good routine and as my training progresses, I am being entrusted with proportionately more complex work. Everyone in the firm is approachable and supportive which promotes an environment where trainees feel comfortable to ask questions and can learn quickly from the wealth of experience at the firm.
What have been the highlights of your traineeship so far?
One of the highlights of my traineeship was writing my first Commercial Property blog. It felt very rewarding to be trusted to research and produce content which is informative for clients, potential clients and legal professionals alike.
Another highlight was being trusted to manage my first completion day for a sale transaction. It was both rewarding and insightful rounding off a transaction that I had been involved with from the beginning of the sale process.
I also greatly enjoyed our firm's Commercial Property and Licencing get-together, where both teams spent the night in Flight Club, engaging in some friendly competition.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in law?
I wanted to use my strong communication and written skills in a career where these skills are valued and applied in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. The idea that, in legal practice, every transaction could bring about a new challenge appealed to me, and I was particularly attracted to the opportunity to gain experience across different fields during training. I was also drawn to the commercial aspect of law and the ability to provide strategic value to businesses.
Which areas of law interest you the most, and what draws you to them?
I have particularly enjoyed my seat in Commercial Property so far. Commercial Property has a good balance of commercial considerations, drafting tasks, client communication and fast-paced, time-sensitive work. I also enjoy the fact that every transaction is unique, and often, a transaction will engage with various other areas of law such as Corporate, Licencing or Litigation.
Having some past experience working in Residential Property, I also enjoy this area of law. I enjoy the increased client communication and the opportunity to act as a trusted advisor in such a significant transaction in people's lives.
I would also be interested in moving to a seat in Litigation or Licencing. These areas of law would provide me with exposure to licencing hearings and court proceedings, which would build on my pre-existing interest in advocacy.
What skills do you think are essential for a successful law trainee, and how have you been applying them?
Organisation is essential in any legal role, but especially as a trainee. You need to be fully aware of a transaction's progress at all times, ready to provide updates when asked. The best way to stay on top of this is to keep a detailed written record of everything and action tasks as soon as possible.
Maintaining a running list of assigned tasks, deadlines, follow-ups, and key dates ensures nothing is overlooked.
It seems simple but taking action as soon as possible will give you more time to deal with any unforeseen problems that arise and will keep clients and other solicitors satisfied. If you take a long time to act on something, you might find that an unforeseen problem that may have been avoidable had you been on top of things becomes unavoidable.
Beyond organisation, being proactive is key to standing out as a trainee. The most effective way to make a strong impression is by easing the workload of fee earners. Researching why you have been asked to carry out a piece of work or considering how your work fits into the larger transaction can provide opportunities to draft an extra document or order an additional search which will give colleagues more time to work on other matters.
What are your main goals for your traineeship, and what do you hope to achieve by the end of it?
My primary goals for my traineeship are to build on my foundational legal knowledge by learning from experts in various fields and refine my drafting, advocacy, and client communication skills. By the end of my traineeship, I hope to have gained a clear understanding of my strengths and interests within the legal profession, enabling me to make an informed decision about my future career path. I hope that by the end of my traineeship, I will have reached a stage where I can confidently manage a transaction independently from start to finish, giving excellent legal advice throughout. Another main goal I have for my traineeship is to continue my involvement in the Miller Samuel Hill Brown charity events and hopefully join the committee.
Do you have any tips or recommendations for recent graduates or those looking to start their traineeship?
My advice to recent graduates looking for a traineeship would be to keep an open mind and put in the time to research various firms. I also found it really beneficial to try and get experience working in a law firm before applying for traineeships. It will help you better understand what type of firm is suited to you.
My advice to those recent graduates with a traineeship would be to approach every seat with a passion to do well and don't be afraid to ask for help.
Welcome, Stephen! Here's to a successful journey ahead! If you have any questions, wish to connect with Stephen, or would like to learn more about our Traineeships, please call us at 0141 221 1919. We are currently accepting applications for 2026; please visit our Careers page for further information.
