I recently won an essay competition as part of my Law degree at Leeds Trinity University. The prize was an opportunity for me to spend a day with the global law film Addleshaw Goddard, based in their Leeds city centre office. This was an exciting and valuable opportunity made possible by the University’s partnership with Legal Tech in Leeds. 

My placement experience with Addleshaw Goddard made me realise how intrigued I am with the idea of combining law and technology, a topic I also explored for the essay competition. I was able to engage with senior members of the Real Estate and Legal Tech teams, broadening my comprehension of how technology and the legal profession interact, particularly when it comes to real estate law. 

It was fascinating to learn about numerous leading legal technologies which possess enormous potential to improve and streamline the legal system. HighQ, a software company,provided a demonstration of how technology can boost efficiency in law firms with their cloud-based platform for document management and client engagement. The property due diligence company, Orbital Witness, on the other hand, served as a testament to the effectiveness of property technology by producing thorough risk profiles for properties and giving real estate lawyers important information. With its potential for work automation, case law research and the generation of legal documents, GPT-4 further astounded me.  

Equally instructive were my conversations with trainee solicitors. It was motivating to hear first-person descriptions of their experiences, from submitting applications for vacation schemes to securing training contracts. These discussions brought to life the realities of starting a legal career and created a realistic image of the tenacity, hard work, and dedication required to become a solicitor in the UK. I am also pleased to say that I have stayed in touch with two trainees. 

Finally, and crucially, this placement offered me a window into the day-to-day life of a real estate solicitor. I witnessed the procedures for managing complex transactions, negotiating contracts and advising clients on property-related legal issues and developed a better understanding of the multifaceted nature of the job. This exposure underscored the dynamic and challenging aspects of real estate law, further igniting my interest in this field.  

My time at Addleshaw Goddard was more than just a fruitful and informative experience; it served as a springboard for my growing interest in the practise of real estate law and as a gateway into a world where law and technology collide. I now have more questions, unquenchable curiosity and a want to learn more about the revolutionary field of legal technology. I'm looking forward to the path ahead and am appreciative of the solid foundation this experience has given me. Thank you to Addleshaw Godddard, Leeds Trinity University and Legal Tech in Leeds for this invaluable opportunity.   

Sam Munday is a student on the Law with Foundation Year in Legal Issues degree at Leeds Trinity University.  

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