After finishing my undergraduate law degree at Nottingham Trent University in early June, I was quickly asked what I was going to do now. Aside from catching up with the hours of sleep that I had missed whilst revising for my exams, I knew I wanted to spend the summer gaining experience working in a legal firm.

In my final year, I studied a module on medical law. As the end of the year drew closer, we began to look at how clinical negligence can occur in day-to-day procedures, and the legal basis of these claims. Though I had initially chosen the module on whim, medical law soon became my favourite – so much so that I wrote my dissertation on it! The variety of matters involved in clinical negligence kept me on my toes, and I became interested in how a claim would work outside of the lecture hall.

Through a mutual contact, I was connected to Gemma Lewis, a director and senior solicitor at Moosa-Duke Solicitors. She invited me to spend two weeks at the firm, where I could gain invaluable experience of clinical negligence claims.

During these two weeks, I helped throughout the office in any way I could. I treasury tagged my way through the archive room, performed quantum research to assess the potential damages a claim may receive and gathered contacts to provide expert evidence. I read through medical reports drafted by experts and medical chronologies, and offered my opinion on how and why specific areas could support a client’s case.

I was able to attend client meetings, where I was tasked with taking notes throughout to complete the corresponding attendance notes and witness statements, and counsel conferences, where professional opinions on the proceedings of a case were discussed. I would like to thank Gemma Lewis, Navdeep Kainth and Yusuf Takoliya for allowing me to partake in these calls. The compassion and professionalism each client was treated with showed me the extent to which the team at Moosa-Duke Solicitors care about their clients; no question was too much, no request too outlandish.

The last two weeks have allowed me an invaluable insight into what my law career could look like, and I am beyond grateful for the support Moose-Duke Solicitors have offered me. I came into this experience unsure of the area of law I would practice in after completing my LPC next summer. I finished this experience with an even stronger desire to qualify as a solicitor, and with the intention of practicing in clinical negligence upon completion of my LPC. And a new love for using the shredder.

Daisy Codd.