Jen Armstead joined Shoosmiths in September 2023 is currently a second seat trainee in the Corporate Restructuring and Advisory team based in the Manchester office. She shares her top tips for making a good impression and getting the most out of your first seat as a Trainee.
Starting your training contract can feel daunting, especially if you have never worked in a law firm before. Even if you have already worked in a legal role, such as a paralegal, you will likely be working with a new team in a new area of law and of course as humans, we all put pressure on ourselves to impress! Six months into my training contract, I share my top tips to help you ace your first seat.
1. Introduce yourself to everyone in your team.
A good starting point in your first week is to make sure you introduce yourself to everyone in your team and let them know that you are available to help them if they need it. First impressions count!
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you are not sure of something, ask! You are not expected to start any seat as an expert in that area of law – in fact, quite the opposite.
If you can’t find a good time to ask a question, why not put some time in your supervisor’s diary? If you double check things that you are not sure of, you are more likely to produce work of a better standard which will take them less time to correct.
There is also no such thing as a stupid question, remember you are learning!
3. Own up to mistakes.
As a trainee, you will undoubtedly make mistakes. The most important thing is that you are honest and tell your supervisor as soon as you know that you have made a mistake. This can feel uncomfortable, but mistakes happen and the quicker you admit them, the quicker they can be fixed.
4. Be honest about your capacity.
If you can’t take on any more work or have conflicting deadlines, be honest. Rather than just saying no, you could ask whether there is flexibility on the deadline, for example “I don’t have capacity to do this today, but I could do it for you tomorrow.” You could also ask the fee earners who have given you the conflicting work to discuss between themselves which task is more important.
Of course, you should try and be flexible and cope with a high workload from time to time, however if you raise concerns about your capacity as soon as possible, usually the work can go to someone else. This is much better than agreeing to take on too much and then not being able to finish tasks on time!
5. Put yourself out of your comfort zone.
Most of us prefer to stay in our comfort zone but the only way you will really learn is by putting yourself in unfamiliar situations and giving everything a go. Even if you don’t do something perfectly the first time, you will learn from any feedback and perform better the next time.
Volunteering to assist with a variety of work will also help you to gain as much experience as possible in your seat, which ultimately will help you to decide whether you want to qualify there.
Even if you are not in the seat you wanted, putting yourself out of your comfort zone will help you to develop skills that are essential for a career in any area of law!
6. Get involved in the culture at the firm.
Outside of your specific seat, one of my biggest recommendations would be to get involved in anything you can socially at the firm.
This could be joining and being an active member of a committee, for example at Shoosmiths we have networks that focus on gender parity, diversity, mental health and the LGBTQ+ community (to name just a few!).
Even just attending events is a great way to meet people outside of your team and truly experience the culture at the firm. This is especially important as a trainee, as knowing people in other teams can be an advantage when it comes to seat moves!
TOP TIP:
Most importantly, have fun! If you have managed to secure a training contract you are more than capable of being a great trainee – Good luck!
You may also be interested in reading Olivia’s blog where she shares her top tips for the trainee induction week.
If you have any questions you can email us at [email protected] or have a look at some frequently asked questions here.
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Disclaimer
This information is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. Please contact us for specific advice on your circumstances. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024.