Work experience at Spall Clark Solicitors
At Spall Clark Solicitors, we believe it is important to help young people gain a clearer understanding of the legal profession and the different career paths it can offer. As a specialist private client practice, we are committed to providing high quality legal advice in plain English and to building strong personal relationships with the people we support. That same approach shapes how we offer opportunities such as work experience.
We were therefore delighted to welcome Amy Beasley and Oliver Crouch, to the firm for a week of work experience. Their placements gave them the chance to see what life in a law firm is really like, to experience the different skills involved in professional practice and to reflect on what they may like to do in the future.
During their placements, Amy and Oliver were introduced to key areas of private client law, including Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Probate and Trusts. They also gained an insight into how a specialist law firm operates as a business. Both Amy and Oliver had the opportunity to observe client meetings, giving them a first-hand understanding of professional communication and client care.
Why work experience matters at Spall Clark Solicitors
Work experience is an important way of helping students connect classroom learning with the realities of professional life. It can make the legal profession feel more accessible and help young people understand that legal work is not only about technical knowledge, but also about listening carefully, communicating clearly and supporting people through important life decisions. That reflects the way Spall Clark works with clients every day.
Helping students understand the legal profession
For many students, law can appear quite distant or difficult to picture in practice. A work experience placement gives them the opportunity to see how a law firm operates day to day, how matters are managed and how solicitors work closely with clients and other professionals.
It also helps students appreciate the personal side of legal work. In private client law, the matters we deal with often involve families, future planning and sensitive life events. Seeing that first-hand can be a valuable introduction to the profession and to the level of care it requires.
Building confidence and workplace skills
Work experience is also about more than legal knowledge. It helps students build confidence, develop communication skills and gain experience of working in a professional environment. Even over the course of a single week, students can begin to understand how to present themselves professionally, how to ask thoughtful questions and how different roles within a business work together.
For us, offering work experience is one way of supporting the next generation and sharing an honest insight into what a modern specialist law firm looks like.
Becky Spall – Practice Manager
“Providing work experience is one of the ways we invest in the future of our profession. For undergraduate students interested in a career in the law, it offers a valuable opportunity to see how solicitors support individuals and families with some of life’s most important and often challenging decisions. We hope that by sharing an insight into our work, we can help students gain confidence and practical workplace skills whilst developing an understanding of the care, empathy and professionalism that underpin private client practice.“
Amy Beasley’s work experience at Spall Clark Solicitors
Amy spent a week with us gaining insight into both the day-to-day life of a private client law firm and the wider role legal professionals can play in supporting people in the community. Her placement gave her the opportunity to observe how professional standards, organisation and communication all come together in practice.
A particularly valuable part of Amy’s week was attending client meetings which included initial meetings for probate, Wills and cross border estates. Amy also supported Paul Clark with a probate matter from initial meeting to grant application. This experience helped bring legal work to life and offered Amy a practical view of the care, preparation and attention involved in helping people with legal issues.
Working together on a Probate application
As part of the work experience, Amy learnt about probate matters and how Spall Clark support people during bereavement. Paul was approached by a relative of someone who had died without leaving a Will (Intestacy) to assist with a probate application. This gave Amy the opportunity to put into practice what she had learnt throughout the week and see how the different stages of a probate matter fit together, from the initial meeting through to the preparation and submission of the application.
Amy sat in on the initial meeting and worked with Paul to prepare the application documents before meeting with the client to review and sign the documents. By seeing both the start and conclusion of client meetings, Amy was able to gain a clearer understanding of the probate process and how legal knowledge, preparation and client care come together to support people during difficult times.
What Amy took away from the week
Over the course of the week, Amy gained a broader understanding of what working in a law firm involves and how a law firm is run. As well as observing legal work, she saw how teamwork, preparation and client care all play a part in delivering a good service.
We hope the placement gave Amy greater confidence and a clearer sense of what a legal career can involve. Work experience often helps students identify what interests them most, and Amy’s week provided a useful opportunity to reflect on future study and career plans.
Amy Beasley
“It was insightful to see both the start and end of a client’s matter, and everything I learnt during the week helped me understand the process. It felt amazing to play even a small part in supporting someone during what was likely a difficult time. My week of work experience solidified what I already knew I wanted my future career to look like as a Private Client Solicitor.”
Paul Clark TEP – Managing Director
“It was a pleasure to have Amy join us for a week. She has shown great interest in the work we do and has contributed towards several matters throughout her placement, quickly developing an understanding of the legal issues involved. Amy has made a fantastic impression on our team and I am sure she has a successful career ahead of her.”
Q&A with Amy Beasley
What are you currently studying?
What interested you most about doing work experience in a law firm?
I wanted to see what my future will look like once I’ve graduated. I had a feeling I knew what path I wanted to take once I finished University, but I wanted work experience to solidify that.
What did you enjoy most during your week at Spall Clark Solicitors?
It’s hard to pick one! I enjoyed sitting in on client meetings the most. Seeing how what I had been taught throughout the week plays out in real life situations with clients seeking advice and comfort during what is most likely a stressful time felt rewarding, even if I wasn’t actually the one giving the advice!
What surprised you about the experience?
How fast things can change. Everyday there was something new that came up such a meetings or rapid probate applications! I knew the work would be fast paced but it shocked me how quickly you have to adapt to every situation.
What would you like to do in the future?
Definitely private client work. I have looked into and experienced different areas of law but I know now that helping people during what might be a stressful time and offering even if it’s the smallest peace of mind is something I want to be a part of. I also know that working in a smaller, boutique firm suits me better than working in a larger one and I enjoy working in a more close knit environment.
Oliver Crouch’s work experience at Spall Clark Solicitors
Oliver’s week with us focused on a different aspect of professional life and offered insight into how a law firm communicates its achievements and shares important milestones. During the placement, Oliver helped us celebrate the firm being named in Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2026 and saw how recognition of this kind can be reflected in the way a firm presents itself and connects with its audience.
This gave Oliver the chance to look beyond legal casework and understand more about the wider life of a business. It also showed how communication, reputation and relationships all support the work of a law firm.
Helping us celebrate our Chambers ranking
During the placement, Oliver helped us celebrate being included in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2026. This offered a useful insight into how firms communicate good news, highlight achievements and make sure important milestones are shared in a professional and engaging way.
What Oliver took away from the week
Oliver’s placement showed how varied the work around a law firm can be. Alongside the legal services a firm provides, there is also a great deal of thought that goes into communication, presentation and making sure the firm’s identity is reflected clearly and consistently.
We hope Oliver finished the week with a stronger understanding of the wider professional skills involved in running and promoting a specialist practice. The placement also provided a useful opportunity to think about future ambitions and the many different routes that can lead into legal or professional services work.
Oliver Crouch
“I really enjoyed my time at Spall Clark experiencing first-hand the attention and care with which each member of the team handles every matter was inspiring. I have learnt so much about legal practise, the workings of a law firm and the type of Lawyer I want to become, this was a unique experience where I was not only there to watch but encouraged to contribute my own ideas. I would like to thank each member of Spall Clark for taking the time to work with me and explain the reason for their decisions.”Natasha Yelland – Solicitor
“It was great to have Oliver with us in the office for a week. He showed a deep interest in the work that we do and the clients that we work with, including understanding why certain decisions were made. All of the team enjoyed working with Oliver and it was great for me to see first hand how much he has progressed since I was appointed as his Mentor 2 years ago. I know he has a very successful career ahead of him wherever it may take him.”
Q&A with Oliver Crouch
What did you study at university?
Law at the University of Derby.
Why did you want to do work experience at Spall Clark Solicitors?
I wanted to gain work experience with Spall Clark because of its recognised expertise in Private Client law and reputation for providing a personal and accessible service for their clients. As the firm of my professional mentor Natasha Yelland, I was excited to gain experience in the firm which she was so positive about.
Another motivator for achieving work experience with Spall Clark was the boutique nature of the firm, having the opportunity to work alongside every member of the team including the firm founders was something I was really excited by.
What sort of work and activities did you get involved in during the week?
During the week, I was involved in a variety of private client law activities which provided me a strong insight into both Private client as an area of practise and the behind-the-scenes operations of running a law firm.
I had the opportunity to assist with a range of Private Client matters, including drafting Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, using the LEAP case management system, and documenting client fact-finds. I attended both initial and final client meetings, witnessed the signing of legal documents, and completed administrative and legal research tasks. I also gained insight into probate, inheritance tax, compliance requirements, and the business operations of a specialist law firm.
What was the most valuable thing you learned from the experience?
The most valuable thing I learned from my work experience was through the conversations I had with the solicitors at the firm. Being able to discuss their legal journeys, gain insight into the life of a solicitor, and how they all differed in their approach to legal matters was inspiring. Every member of the Spall Clark team was very supportive of my inquisitive nature and took the time to answer my questions and share their experiences. These have motivated me to continue developing my skills, as I pursue a career in law.
What are your plans for the future?
I am now looking forward to continuing to learn, grown and develop as a legal professional. My time at Spall Clark has provided me valuable insight into the expectations and responsibilities that accompany working in a law firm, I am excited to begin my legal career, build upon the legal skills and knowledge and take on new opportunities to help me progress professionally and personally.
Photos from the work experience week
Thank you to Amy and Oliver for their contributions during their work experience week.
Article written by Paul Clark with quotes from Becky Spall and Natasha Yelland and contributions from Amy Beasley and Oliver Crouch.
