Sometimes the learning of all the law you need to know for professional qualification can seem like a never ending slog. We know! We’ve been there and going through all our guides every year to look for updates is quite hard work too! So, is it worth it? Is this a career we can recommend?
Well yes, it is. We’ve just been working our way through the equitable remedies section and arrived at search orders. For sheer adrenaline rush this is probably one of the most exciting things you might ever have the chance to be involved in.
Applying for a search order requires absolutely meticulous work, you’re probably going to be giving undertakings to the court and you have to take your office and the duty of full disclosure very seriously indeed. You’re asking for a draconian order without notice to the other side. You’d better be very honest about the grounds and any weaknesses in your case. It’s a time for precision and care – bluster and obfuscation might be alright in some circumstances, ex parte applications just don’t fall into that particular list!
If you get your order the enforcement of it can be very exciting. You’re likely to have several teams going into different locations and you will want to knock on every door at exactly the same moment. The team leader will be coordinating everything and the leaders in each location will need to think about how to deploy the teams. Does someone need to keep an eye on the back door? You don’t know what is going to happen when you make the knock, but you can be pretty sure that you’re not going to be welcomed with open arms. You need to be clear in what you say and to keep calm whatever the provocation. You’re likely to have warned the local police in advance. If you expect real volatility from the subjects of the order you might want the police on speed dial! You’re also going to have counsel’s number in your phone in case you need to instruct counsel to go back before the judge on committal proceedings.
If all goes well and you get in, you’ve then got a long slog of document inspection and listing in front of you. You need to be meticulous and unfailingly polite and maybe keep your fingers crossed that you find what you’re looking for. Whatever happens we can absolutely promise you an exciting time – being a solicitor is definitely not all about sitting behind a desk!
One final tip to enhance your overall enjoyment of the day? Note where the nearest coffee shop is before you go in – you’re not likely to be offered hospitality and it’s very good to be able to send one of the team for refreshments!
No matter what stage you are in your legal studies, we have resources that can help you. Make your path to becoming a lawyer easier by visiting Law Answered.