My Summer Intern Experience in Court & a Legal Office

Gaining experience from both the office and the courts gives you a great idea of how the legal process works under family law. But it also reveals the extremely emotive side too. Solicitors and barristers do not just act as legal advice they also take on the role of friend and confidant. As an intern for Maria Fogg Family Law, I have experienced this first hand when I was able to observe multiple cases of court proceedings over the summer.

Background

In this particular case, our client was a father who was fighting for custody of his three children after a tough and hostile breakup with his ex-partner. The ex-partner had refused our client from seeing two of his children and therefore he decided to take legal action. Unfortunately there was suspected domestic abuse from our client’s ex-partner towards the children, therefore it was important for our client and ourselves to act in their best interests. 

Our Client

It was evident when I first met our client that he was a dedicated father who really cared for his children. Any cases involving children can be emotional for parents which was very true in this case, especially because there were also allegations of sexual assault.

Courtroom Days

Before attending the hearing, I had perused the case documents to give me a full and in-depth understanding of the case and what it would entail. 

The Case

The case in question was a long running court case due to its serious nature. I was able to attend this hearing for two days in which I took detailed notes on the proceedings. This was my first time being in a family court, so I was quite nervous on my first day not knowing what to expect. However I was excited to see the legal profession in practice.  

Representing Our Client

I spent a lot of time with the barrister representing our client who was very professional. They made our client feel at ease, especially as going to court can feel overwhelming and intimidating. The courts are a very professional environment in which legal representatives are always respectful to one another despite the traditional adversarial process we experience in court. 

Experience in Court

It was a great insight into how the legal profession operates outside of the actual courtroom. As well as a good opportunity to make connections with people in the legal profession who are experienced. 

First Day in The Courtroom

On the first day attending court the mother was cross-examined in regards to the suspected domestic abuse against the children. This was an obvious emotional experience for both parents and the court took regular breaks for the sake of the clients wellbeing. The barristers are very sensitive to both their client’s needs and as well as the other party as they understand that the court process is not an easy one. 

The Examination

This examination involved a number of questions made to the mother about evidence that was produced from a number of sources such as police disclosures, social worker meetings and GP records. Although this can be quite a gruelling process, it is crucial for the court to try to gage the truth from the parties involved especially when regarding the safety of the children.     

The Second Day in the Courtroom

The second day was entirely dedicated to examining the evidence of the social worker who worked alongside the family. Family law does not just consist of lawyers and clients. Instead it includes working with a multitude of other authorities that are involved in the process such as social workers, doctors and psychologists. 

Building the Case

The documents produced by authorities are really key factors in what helps solicitors and barristers build their case and help the client. It appeared fairly clearly from these assessments that our client had a good case as it really exemplified his good parental skills.  

Invaluable Experience

As this case was a long running case I was only able to see a fairly small insight into the case as a whole. But even that small insight gave me invaluable experience that only comes from first hand observation that you don’t necessarily get when studying at university. 

What I learnt 

For me as an intern, going to court was a great experience which really opened up my eyes to the legal process within family law. For an aspiring family solicitor, this was a chance for me to explore legal life outside of the firm office and make connections with other legal minds. 

The Importance of Legal Professionals

Solicitors and barristers are very dedicated to their work despite the court process often being a difficult avenue both professionally and on an emotional level too. The most important lesson I learned from my time in court was realising how important the role of a legal professional is for people within the court system. 

Meeting the Client

Meeting the client in person puts the hard work into perspective because family law really is about the client and how your help impacts their lives. I am grateful for the experience I have had at Maria Fogg Family Law and have seen first-hand how professional, dedicated and knowledgeable all the staff are at Maria Fogg Family Law.

If you’re interested in the experience of court from the other perspective, find out more on the Gov’s website, what to expect coming to a court or tribunal.