News and Insights

First published in Skills Jersey Direction Magazine 2022/2023 issue

Bursary students, Isaac du Val and Ella Harrison discuss their experience at Viberts.

Isaac du Val

What did you want to be when you were 8?
Like many 8-year-olds it was a footballer, however I can’t say it has gone to plan!

Favourite way to relax?
Engaging in any outdoor-related activities, whether that is taking part in sport or socialising with friends and family.

Best bit of Jersey?
Definitely the beaches. With so many around the Island it makes summers here unbeatable.

Favourite restaurant?
A few come to mind, but I would have to say El Tico, particularly because of its St Ouen setting.

Favourite item and why?
It would have to be a ring handed down to me through family, as it holds sentimental value.

Why are you interested in studying law?
If I had to pinpoint one reason it would be the inter-personal nature of it. I have always been keen on working in a people-focussed environment, with any opportunity to communicate face-to-face with clients on a consistent basis being a massive attraction for me. From my own experience at Viberts I have found this process to be very satisfying, particularly because our work has in many cases visibly improved a client’s livelihood.

How did you find your learning experience on your bursary placement?
My learning experience at Viberts Lawyers was a hugely successful one. Despite not actually studying Law at an undergraduate level, my supervisors went the extra mile to support me and ensured that I adapted into every given task sufficiently.

Having been exposed to three separate departments (Dispute Resolution, Property Law, and Private Client), I was able to both add to, and subsequently solidify, my skill set from a legal perspective. Notably the benefit of Viberts being a full-service law-firm was that I could truly understand where my interests lay in this field, which is invaluable for me going forward in my career.

What future skills will you need to learn?
Thinking back to my own experience, three skills that are very prevalent in this field would be communication, attention to detail and organisation.

What advice would you give someone interested in law?
The key would be to apply to as many different law firms as you can enquiring for any vacant work experience opportunities. Whilst this may sound like obvious advice, it massively helps you to fully gauge where your interests may lie in this field as well as being an attractive asset on your CV for future employers. A week or two will still be very valuable, even if you had envisaged on working for an entire summer for example.

Tell us a fun fact
I have competed for both Jersey and Hampshire in Athletics.

Ella Harrison

What did you want to be when you were 8?
I think around that age I wanted to be a vet as I loved animals, but as I got older I realised it wasn’t right for me.

Favourite way to relax?
I love to spend time with my friends to relax, we will go out for dinner, watch a movie or just spend time together at one of our houses.

Best bit of Jersey?
I would say the beaches, we have so many and you are never really far away from one no matter where you are on the island.

Favourite restaurant?
Definitely El Tico, not only because of the food, but also the view, especially in the summer when it’s sunset.

Favourite item and why?
I have a necklace which my friends bought me for my 15th birthday, and it’s one of my favourite items as it’s very sentimental.

What does a typical working day involve for you?
I have been working in the family department and so I have looked at matters mostly involving divorce or child issues. Some examples of the work I have done is drafting the documents required for a divorce, including looking at the finances involved, writing letters to clients, and drafting forms. I have also been lucky enough to attend Court with some of the Lawyers, including Family Court, Magistrates Court and Royal Court.

How did you get your bursary role?
After applying to do law at University I became aware that Viberts had a bursary scheme, so I sent in my CV. I was asked to come in to meet the Head of People and Culture, and then meet some of the family department as that is the area I was interested in. After a couple of meetings I was lucky enough to be offered the bursary.

What motivates you in this role?
I’ve always wanted a job that enables me to help people in some way, and I have been able to see first-hand how much lawyers can help people, especially in family law as it is such a personal area. Seeing how much it can impact people really motivates me to want to be able to do the same one day.

What future skills will you need to learn?
I think problem solving is something really important in law as it is required for so many cases, as well as legal research.

What advice would you give someone interested in law?
Doing work experience before applying for law at university really helped me, as it confirmed for me that being a lawyer is my dream job. I did my Trident work experience in year 10 at a law firm which was where my interest started, and I have been working at Viberts this summer as part of my bursary. I would suggest that anyone interested in law does work experience if possible, before deciding it is for them, as it is the best way to understand what a career in law would be like.

To find out more about our bursary scheme please click here.