The Ten Commandments for a Trainee Solicitor

I started my training contract on 1 September 2014. It has been the busiest, tiring, rewarding, month. Here are a few lessons I have learnt along the way.

Being a new trainee, for me, meant being wrecked with nerves everyday. Not always rational, but natural. Nerves are for fear of the unknown. The unfamiliar will become familiar with perseverance. Slowly you will get used to feeling nervous and your body will numb to it.

Everybody has to start somewhere and everybody did start somewhere. We are all human and we all make mistakes. That doesn’t make you bad at what you do. It’s how you correct your mistake that counts. Correct them quickly and don’t make them twice.

III

Have a plan of what you want to do and where you want to be.

Have a one long-term goal as well as some small term goals in mind and take steps to achieve them. You should have been given a list of criteria that you have to meet as a trainee, keep it close, and more importantly, keep ticking things off of the list.

Critique will become a constant so get used to it and learn how to accept and use it. It will mold you into a better version of you.

Be honest about what you understand. If you don’t know where to start, don’t waste time with guesswork. Go and speak to someone who has stood in your shoes, they will invest time in you. It’s great learning something new, especially from someone who can show you the fast lane.

The best way to learn is by watching those at the top of their game in action with real clients. They will explain things in layman terms and this is what you need.

Record everything. If not for your training principle to see what you can do, there is no better confidence boost than looking at what you have achieved in such a short space of time.

VII

Once you start, a training contract feels no different to any other job but don’t get complacent. Everyday is a test. You don’t want to risk a fail next to your name and for all of your hard work to have been in vain.

VIII

Your comfort zone is the most uncomfortable place to be as a trainee. If you find yourself there, you are not doing enough to impress. Step up your game. Check out your training criteria and ask for a task you haven’t done yet.

You will never feel as though you have done enough but if you want results, take care of yourself and have a guilt-free break at home. You will feel fresher and have more to give tomorrow.

Believe your supervisor when he says ‘you will get there’.

Next month I am moving to a different office, where I will no doubt face a host of new challenges and learn a list of new lessons. I am excited to share my experiences with you!

Thanks for reading