Becoming a trainee lawyer is not just about learning the law and how to deliver legal advice. The period leading to qualification is an opportunity to do so much more than this, but what is the best way to get the most out of your training contract?
Be organised
My top tip to anyone embarking on a legal career is to work out how you are going to log, prioritise and execute the tasks you are given. People have different methods. There are technology solutions such as Workflowy, or there are the daily diary and to-do list, and a host of other options. The key is that being organised and a good administrator are core parts of legal work. These are the frame you will build your practice around.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority expects you to evidence the advice you give. You need to make attendance notes to record your advice and you must record your time. Doing these in anything other than real-time will set you up to fail. Establishing good habits will equip you for most situations. One of my favourites is to end the working day with a plan for what tomorrow’s focus will be, so you can switch off overnight and get a proper rest. Another is to have a three-things list. If you aim to complete three tasks every day, you have a much better chance of achieving them and feeling satisfied with your day than if you have a never-ending list. It is more encouraging than dispiriting.
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Managing clients
A core skill you will need to hone is how to manage clients. This can be tricky when you are a junior, but remember that inexperience does not mean that clients can be abusive. Report any client misbehaviour to your training principal or to HR. You do not have to tolerate this at such an early stage in your legal life. Always be polite, but do call out any abusive conduct. Even as a trainee, I would not allow any client to swear or shout at me and would politely put down the phone or leave a meeting.
Once you are working for a client, be sure not to give them unrealistic expectations about how quickly you will do the work. It will always take longer than you think, and there is nothing worse than delivering work late. If you know you are going to be late because the task ends up taking a long time, give the client advance warning that there will be a delay. Even better, keep them updated on your progress in real time. They just want to know they are a priority and the task is in hand.
Cutting off at the pass any chaser email gives you so much more power than waiting for the client to chase you and being on the back foot. Communicate openly and honestly. If a client asks you something that you do not know the answer to, be honest. They will respect you more for it. This is one time in your legal life when it is OK not to have all the answers.
Build your profile
You will need to build your profile internally and externally. Make sure you show up to as many of the internal seminars and learning opportunities as you can. Being seen to make the most of this will demonstrate to the firm’s leaders that you are committed to your career and to their firm. Buddy up with partners who are doing work that interests you, even if you are not in their team at that time. This will open the path for seats in other disciplines. Partners want to work with the keenest and brightest trainees, so make yourself visible. There may also be social opportunities outside work to take advantage of, especially if there is an event that your firm is sponsoring or organising.
There will be many opportunities to build your external network. Sign up for free webinars and in-person events where you will be visible and exposed to your peers and the decision-makers in your organisation and beyond. Many barristers’ chambers organise events which provide ample opportunity to meet people. Connect with your opposite number at the barristers’ chambers your firm works with. While you grow, they will grow, and this sets up your network for the future.
Social media seems to have waned in prominence in recent years, but having a LinkedIn profile is an effortless way to build a network and a name for yourself for being on the ball with legal developments and other updates, without leaving your chair. Get into the habit of posting regularly and adding people who comment on your posts or who request to link with you.
Your training contract is all about making maximum use of the learning opportunities provided. If, during your training, you are not getting exposed to a particular work type or, for example, court dealings and hearings, bring this to the attention of your training partner so that they can look out for ways to fill the gaps in your development. It is as much about you showing what you want to get out of your training contract as it is about you doing as you are asked.
The more you do, the more you will get from it, which in turn can only make you a better lawyer and more in demand in the employment market.
Karen Jackson is founder-director of didlaw, London
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