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As I approach the end of my two-year training contract, I am reflecting on the opportunities I have encountered, as well as the wide range of skills I have developed whilst training to qualify as a solicitor at Michelmores.
Indispensable skills
Top of the list for key skills is organisation and time management. Regardless of which seat you are in, you will invariably be expected to manage a busy caseload and multiple demands on your time with efficiency and professionalism. Whilst we all fall foul of this every now and then, there is no excuse for forgetting to complete a piece of work when a task list is just begging to be made! One aspect of this I have worked hard on during my training contract is understanding how to prioritise work to ensure that the most urgent tasks are always completed within the deadlines.
Going hand in hand with organisation is communication. And this is not just communication with your direct supervisor, but also the wider team. It is your responsibility as a trainee to ensure that your time is managed effectively and that you communicate as soon as possible if you are unable to meet a deadline. Something I learnt through my training was that it is not a bad thing if you are going to be unable to meet a deadline, as long as you recognise it and communicate it as soon as practicable. This means work can be reallocated or your tasks re-shuffled to allow the work to be completed on time. Equally important is recognising when you have more capacity than others in your team, as they will greatly appreciate the offer to share the workload.
I am sure you will not be surprised that attention to detail is next on the list. Solicitors have a responsibility to draft a great number of documents and ensuring that these are prepared without typographical errors or inconsistencies is crucial to maintaining a professional service level. I have discovered that “definitions”, particularly when preparing a suite of related documents can be troublesome and usually require some extra attention!
The final skill that deserves its place in the top four is a little broader, and I have summarised it in the word “adaptability”. This is certainly required during your training contract, when you are constantly expected to learn, grow and improve, but it is also important to continue to be willing to adapt and improve throughout your career as a lawyer. With the increased use of videoconferencing and the use of Microsoft Teams and the like, lawyers spread out across different offices within the firm work together as if they were all sat around the table in Meeting Room 4 in our Bristol Office. Consequently, trainees are expected to work with a far wider range of team members, rather than traditionally having been allocated a partner or senior lawyer to “assist”. Being able to recognise differences in preferences and style between supervisors and adapting your work and communications accordingly is the key to a successful (and far more peaceful) training contract. Nobody wants to receive the “slightly amended” letter that has in fact been completely re-written because of a different writing or communication style…
Opportunities at the firm
Whilst the most important part of my training contract has been the knowledge building and on the job training, there have also been countless opportunities to get involved in the wider community of the firm and to build my professional network.
One of my personal highlights has been sitting on the Bristol Charity Partnership Committee throughout my training contract. My work on the committee raising money for St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol has involved organising charity sweepstakes, volunteering days and (my personal favourite) a midnight march and sunrise swim which we undertook in October last year and are organising again this year.
As well as opportunities to sit on committees, Michelmores offers a variety of wider social mobility programmes, including the “Momentum” programme. I signed up to be a Momentum mentor this year which has been a fantastic opportunity. This involved having monthly meetings in person with my mentee, who was in year 13 and hoping to embark on a career in law, to discuss his aspirations, work on soft skills and increase his awareness and knowledge of the vocation.
My top tip for any incoming trainee or apprentice, is to throw yourself into at least one or two of the opportunities that your firm offers. As well as being rewarding in themselves, there is no better time to do it than when you are a trainee without the added pressure of chargeable targets or higher levels of responsibility. A word to the wise, though, not to just sign up and volunteer for everything, or you may find your time stretched a little too thin!
Looking to the future
As I come to the end of two years of training (where has it gone!), I think my biggest take away is that the learning, improvement and self-reflection do not, and should not, stop simply because I am about to qualify as a solicitor.
There is still a huge amount of experience and knowledge to gain. The continued quest for knowledge and expertise was and is the main reason why I pursued a career in law, and I am excited to explore the next chapter as I start my new role as a Newly Qualified Associate in the Tax, Trusts and Succession team in September. No doubt the ever-changing tax rules will keep me on my toes…