DIARY OF A BABY LAWYER

ARTICLE

DIARY OF A BABY LAWYER

PART THREE

The New Year usually encourages a time for reflection and resolutions that we hope to stick to throughout the next 12 months. For a trainee solicitor this reflection procedure and consideration of future goals is a process that we have to go through constantly, whether it be the weekly training record entries we have to keep up with, the feedback we receive on almost any and every task set or the future career plans that can adapt and change at any moment.

As discussed in my last diary entry, the big decision of which practice area to qualify into is still looming over my head and I am fast approaching my fourth and final seat of my training contract. Therefore, it is the perfect time to reflect on the previous experiences and consider those I wish to achieve once qualified.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learnt and often reflect on during my time as a trainee is a lesson we hear in many areas of life – quality over quantity. I know it is a common trait of trainees that we receive a task from a supervisor and try and complete it as quickly as possible so as to demonstrate how productive and efficient we can be. However, this is not the best approach to take and can result in errors we may have otherwise easily avoided (and will kick ourselves for once pointed out). One of my supervisors once told me that they would rather wait that little bit longer and receive a perfect draft from a trainee than have to spend their own valuable time redrafting and amending work completed in a rush in an attempt to impress with speed. This has stuck with me and, although of course certain tasks need to be completed swiftly to meet deadlines, taking the time to sit back and consider the task at hand and then subsequently completing that task to a higher quality has earned me much improved feedback and satisfaction from both supervisors and clients. Of course we have to be aware of our time and fee targets (how could we forget) and those ever demanding client expectations however, top quality takes time and perfection cannot be rushed.

Every baby lawyer is without a doubt going to experience some level of embarrassment at their own silly mistakes at some point and it is those mistakes that will shape us into better lawyers so we cannot be too harsh on ourselves. I for one will never (again) forget to check my pen is working before going into a meeting with a partner, double check the preferred name of the client before addressing them and will always make sure to have a spare suit blazer in the car in the event that an impromptu meeting is sprung upon me.

Moving on to manifestations and resolutions, of course there are the usual aspirations of being healthier, spending less time glued to my phone and saving up for that rainy day. However, in terms of career goals, these can change and surprise us as much as the British weather at times and I have no doubt that this will continue long past my days as a baby lawyer.

We spend a lot of time as trainees simply observing our seniors and I have always been in awe of how they seem to be able to answer any question thrown at them, seemingly on the spot. This I believe is a skill that will grow with time once comfortable and familiar with my chosen practice area and it has always been a ideal of mine to reach the point whereby I can predict what the client may need before meeting with them, and have a bullet proof answer ready and waiting to launch once asked. This of course cannot always be possible and, as past experience has shown, clients can surprise us at any point with the unexpected and sometimes bizarre. Therefore, I always remember that vital lesson – ‘if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail’.

I have had to face my long term goals and aspirations head on recently when discussing and deciding upon final seats and potential qualification; it is a topic that I am sure my family and friends are sick of hearing about. However, another valuable lesson learnt through this ‘narrowing down’ process is to always be honest and true to yourself and your own desires. It cannot be underestimated how big of a decision your practice area of choice is and I have had to consider and try to recollect my undergraduate, postgraduate and trainee thoughts, feelings and goals when entering into this career in the first place and what I hoped to achieve and gain from it. It is a long road to qualification and I am sure all lawyers (both baby and senior) can agree that it is an even longer career ahead and to be truly satisfied, happy and fulfilled in my role is of utmost importance. As I write this diary entry, the future is still relatively unclear however I hope by the time my next entry is published, this baby lawyer will have a clearer path ahead. 

Eleanor Howells

Eleanor Howells

Trainee Solicitor at Lanyon Bowdler solicitors