Samuel Hopkins

I previously worked as a financing paralegal at Slaughter and May and a litigation paralegal at LK Law and have recently completed the SQE at ULaw (Moorgate).

During my time at Slaughter and May I simultaneously worked across the financing, PSL, and business development teams. This provided me with a great deal of experience in managing my own time and balancing many competing objectives. Within the financing department I assisted with transactions, providing additional capacity when required to support the partners and associates. This commonly involved the proofreading of transaction documents, entering critical information, and drawing documents together into bundles for the client to sign. Many of the tasks I carried out required a proficient knowledge of iManage. When working with the PSLs, my main roles included answering research questions as well as taking part in larger-scale reviews of the scope of the legal market and common document terms. When supporting the business development (BD) team my roles were varied, reflecting the breadth of work they undertook. Particularly common tasks included the creation of slide decks for pitches, analysing information to assist in client targeting, and helping with the collection, selection, and editing of legal directory submissions. These tasks all required clear communication and a keen eye for detail, ensuring my output was professional and error-free.

Whilst working at LKLaw, I worked among a team of document review paralegals on a case that involved a number of different jurisdictions. After quickly familiarising myself with the case I was able to effectively understand and review a wide array of documents. Working methodically, the team met the court deadline.

I have previously worked closely with other lawyers, both during work experience with the regional firm Steele Raymond and during my vacation scheme with Trowers & Hamlins, following which I was offered a training contract. During both experiences I learned a great deal from those I worked with, quickly augmenting my understanding of the area of law I was involved in. When at Trowers & Hamlins I spent time with the property litigation department, undertaking useful research, drafting, and proofreading tasks for the team in addition to attending meetings with counsel. This enabled me to create written memos for use by fee-earners, learning from the documents I proofread and developing my writing style to suit those who were receiving the notes.

My academic qualifications include completing the GDL at City, University of London with a Distinction and graduating with a 2.i degree in Music from the University of Oxford. I have secured a Training Contract to commence in late March 2025.