Harry Milner – Trainee Blog

April 2024

As we approach the end of April, I can begin to feel myself understanding more of specifics in the private client area, this has allowed me to undertake more extensive work for the team.

I have dealt with several probate files and have drafted letters to different companies to help close the accounts of some of the estates we are working on. It is great to be learning first-hand the skills required in specifically to this area of law. Being empathetic to our clients’ situations is imperative to providing good advice and service.

I have also worked on several deputyship order applications. I have found working on these files very rewarding, as you are helping achieve an outcome which is beneficial to all parties involved often at very difficult periods of time. Similarly, I have drafted many wills including mirror wills for spouses. It is quite fascinating the different incorporations can be included into a will; I enjoy the academic thought that may be required when assessing each individual situation especially when a trust may be incorporated, to achieve more tax efficient results for our clients such as through leaving charitable legacies.

I am really enjoying the client facing nature of the seat and directly dealing with our clients, I am looking forward to the rest of my seat.

March 2024

March has been a very eventful month here in the Private Capital Team at Rollits. Upon moving from the Property department, I have had the opportunity to visit our wider team in Rollits’ York office, it was great to finally meet everyone.

I have also attended several client meetings here at our Hull office drafting attendance notes on a variety of different matters, including estate planning, wills and LPA’s. I thoroughly enjoyed the practical side to this and meeting our clients. It is great experience seeing how my colleagues can tailored their legal knowledge to individual’s specific circumstances regardless of how simple or complex their situation may be. Understanding your clients’ needs is essential skill required as a solicitor and the importance of this has been demonstrated to me already.

Additionally, I have spent time researching points of law such as the recent IHT updates noted in the Spring Budget, drafting wills and LPAs for both Health and Finances. I feel that I have learnt so much this month, whether that is information on relevant Business Property Relief for the purposes of calculating inheritance tax or the different amount of trusts available to individuals.

I am really looking forward to what the next five months in Private Capital team entails!

February 2024

I cannot believe it has been six months since I joined Rollits and the Commercial Property team!

This month has probably been my favourite, I am finally seeing a lot of matters I have worked on throughout my time in the department come to an end. I began the month by receiving three certificate of compliances that I had been chasing for a long period of time. I felt this was a big achievement as I could now register our clients’ leases at the Land Registry.

I also had the opportunity to assist our Managing Partner, Ralph on a matter for one our larger clients. I really enjoyed organising and filing several deeds, instructions to counsel and various ancillary documents to create a clear coherent folder of information.

I managed to spend some time seeing my friends and network at the Hull Young Professionals event down Humber Street. I also spent some time relaxing on my birthday off work, I am extremely grateful to the firm for having this extra entitlement policy.

Whilst I am going to miss the team I have worked with over the past sixth months, I am looking forward to joining the Private Client department and continue my learning!

January 2024

I feel January has been a very productive month here in commercial property department at Rollits.

As my experience and knowledge in this area improves, I have been given a real insight into some of the transactions the firm deals with and what life would be like qualifying into the department. Throughout January, I have had an increased amount of responsibility on my matters. I have assisted with drafting a range of associated documents which includes a rent deep deposit and a licence for alterations.

I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to attend a client meeting for a large land and property transaction. It was a great experience to see all the legal elements that I had helped in draft take shape in a practical environment. This enhanced my knowledge of SDLT in business transactions and how the parties work together throughout the various steps to create a successful result for all.

I have also managed to have a meeting with both my mentor in the department and my training supervisor.  I am very fortunate to have access to this support throughout my Training Contract at Rollits, as it gives me the opportunity to discuss my goals, objectives and progress at the firm.

December 2023

As the month and year comes to an end, I have been very busy here at Rollits.

This month, I have had several matters that I have managed to complete for our clients. This has helped develop my understanding of the different post-completion steps required in Property transactions. I particularly enjoy informing and communicating with our clients when we have the positive news that their matters have completed. Understanding and learning Rollits’ billing and invoicing procedure is something I have found very interesting as well! I am also pleased to have been given the opportunity to undertake some advocacy training at Crown Chambers in Hull.

I have also attended several Christmas firm events such as the Rollits Christmas Party that was hosted at the Double Tree Hotel and Property department’s Christmas Meal. After such a hectic few weeks I am looking forward to a well-earned rest over the Christmas period!

November 2023

It has officially been three months since joining the firm and I am now halfway through my property seat; I can’t believe how quick it has gone!

This month, I have had the opportunity to help assist with a Section 25 notice and drafting a new lease for one of our clients. I have also prepared various lease reports as well. However, most of my time has been spent dealing with unregistered land! This is an area I have seen my understanding develop, I have completed several voluntary and compulsory first registrations. I have particularly enjoyed one which involved a lot of investigation into boundary lines and drawing onto Land Registry maps to detail how the land has changed from the plans contained in the conveyances.

I am looking forward to seeing what December brings!

October 2023

As October comes to an end, I have had another great month here in the Property department. I am beginning to feel my confidence grow as my understanding of issues increases.

My workload has been very engaging and varied! I have had the opportunity to help assist on preparing a lease report and an application for adverse possession of unregistered land for one of our larger clients. The support from my colleagues has really helped converting my academic knowledge into achieving good practical outcomes for our clients.

I have managed to experience firsthand the firms secure banking procedures when dealing with money, these standards are fundamental to protecting our clients and limiting the firm’s risk of fraud and cybercrime. It is reassuring to have full training in this area and to feel confident of the procedures used by Rollits.

I have also dealt with a voluntary application for a first registration, this was really exciting as I could search through the original deeds and find various details about the property.

September 2023

My first month at Rollits in the Property department has been really insightful! It has been a busy start to life as a trainee at the firm, but the team has been really supportive and welcoming. I have been given the opportunity to manage my own workloads and undertake a variety of new tasks.

I have prepared a large amount of legal research to help assist my colleagues on different matters. This research has been primarily focused on the process of purchasing property from registered overseas entities, neighbouring land, boundary agreements and the enlargement process for converting a property from leasehold to freehold.

My time has also been spent calculating and drafting SDLT returns, creating heads of terms for leases and contacting the Land Registry for updates and clarification on different issues. I also assisted my colleagues in a large portfolio purchase which gave me the chance to draft a statutory declaration and a number of different completion statements.

Alongside this, I am grateful to have supported the firm in the launch of the Heritage Open Day as well as attending my first Hull Young Professionals event. I am excited to see what the next month in the Property department brings!