From Newcastle University to Litigation in Practice: Joseph’s Work Experience

Supporting aspiring legal professionals is a key part of our culture at Energy Solicitors Limited. Recently, we welcomed Joseph Whaley, a former Newcastle University student and 2025 graduate, for a week of hands-on work experience within our team.

Joseph spent his placement gaining practical insight into both the energy sector and civil litigation, offering him a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between academic study and real-world legal practice.

Our Culture

Joseph’s introduction to Energy Solicitors came after he shared a post about his interest in the legal profession, which caught the attention of Victoria Myers, Senior Partner and Director.

Reflecting on this, Joseph highlighted how this early interaction set the tone for his experience:

“Victoria Myers, Senior Partner and Director, reached out after seeing my recent post and invited me to come in. That kind of openness from the senior partner was telling, and the friendly, welcoming culture of the firm reflected that.”

This culture of approachability is something we actively strive for across the firm, ensuring that students and graduates feel supported, encouraged and included from day one.

Hands-On Exposure to Litigation Work

During his week with us, Joseph gained exposure to our General Disputes and Commission Claims teams, experiencing a broad range of litigation activity.

He worked alongside fee earners and had the opportunity to observe and engage with multiple stages of the litigative process, including:

• Client correspondence
• Case management
• Letters of Authority
• Drafting Particulars of Claim
• Preparing Instructions to Counsel
• Reviewing Defence documents

As Joseph noted:

“Over the week, I experienced the firm’s litigative work across General Disputes and Commission Claims. I had the opportunity to experience various stages of the litigative process…”

Learning Beyond the Case Files

Alongside practical casework, Joseph also joined our trainee solicitors for in-house training sessions focused on litigation procedure under the Civil Procedure Rules.

One session in particular stood out:

“One of which focused on Part 36 offers under the Civil Procedure Rules, an area I found particularly interesting for its strategic nuance.”

By including work experience students in internal training, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of the strategic and procedural considerations that underpin effective litigation.

Understanding of the Energy Sector

In addition to litigation skills, Joseph gained insight into the energy sector, a core focus of our work. Understanding the regulatory, commercial, and procedural context of energy-related disputes is essential for modern litigators, and we are keen to share this specialist knowledge with future legal professionals.

Reflecting on his time with us, Joseph said:

“I have left with a better understanding of litigation and the energy sector, and an invaluable experience in my legal journey.”

Supporting the Next Generation 

We are delighted that Joseph found his time with Energy Solicitors valuable and we thank him for his contribution and engagement throughout the week.

Through our work experience placements, we provide hands-on exposure and structured training within a specialist litigation firm.

We wish Joseph every success in the next stage of his legal career and look forward to following his journey.