Lessons from my first two weeks as a trainee solicitor at a regional firm

There I was - the start of my training contract; the thing I had been dreaming of since I started university. I put on my suit and joined the commuters on the unsociably early trains - I was good to go.

As I walked to the office, the thoughts, "What if I am late?", "Do I look too smart/too casual?", "Will I fit in?" took pole position in my mind over the constant haunting questions, "Is law right for me? Will it be worth all the money?"

The office was in sight and after failing to put my years of higher education to good use and establish how to open the reception door, my first day began.

So what did my first two weeks as a trainee solicitor have in store for me? First and foremost, a lot of IT training - there is no escaping the hours of education on the firm’s systems and processes that come hand in hand with the privilege of being a trainee.

Further training then ensued in the form of the Professional Skills Course (PSC). I am sure that the seminars on how to be assertive and perfect the art of saying no will stand me in good stead after qualification, but there was a consensus among the trainees in attendance that a lesson in the art of saying, "Yes I would love nothing more than to stay late and cancel my plans" would be of more use as a trainee!

The high point of my first two weeks has to be the evening entertainment on the PSC which was provided by the trainees. I won’t give too much away as I don’t want to spoil the fun for future trainees with LawSouth, but I will say that several glasses of wine, a microphone in hand and the ability to laugh at myself secured my team third place!

But highs are often followed by lows. For me, these have to be sheepishly asking my supervising partner if she could demonstrate how to use the first-floor microwave and finding myself shamelessly sitting on the floor of the 6:30pm train because my feet couldn’t stand the pain anymore after traipsing from office to office in a new pair of stilettos.

I’m now well into my third week and the hard work has really started - I am being let loose on the clients!

While I am only just venturing onto the first rung on the ladder in what I hope will be a successful legal career, I would like to think that I have collected some golden nuggets of information to share that have got me to where I am today.

Be yourself

Both in interviews and once you start your training contract. You want employers to want you for who you really are, not someone you’re pretending to be. You can't spend two years pretending to be something you’re not. However, there is a caveat! It is the professional 'you' that is being referred to here, not the ‘you’ down the pub on a Friday evening!

Dress for 'work'

While you want to stand out and make an impression, let it come from your academic ability and flair for understanding, not a fashion misfortune. Girls, be savvy – while a pair of heels will look great with your suit, save your tootsies and have a back-up pair of flats! I always said I would never let myself become one of those 'suit and trainer' people, but each day I weaken and I start to envy how comfortable they look on their commutes!

Adopt an open stance, but be willing to fight for what you want

As aspiring lawyers, while you cannot afford to be too picky, you need to make sure that you choose a firm that is right for you. There is no point securing a training contract at a firm that makes you hate your life every day! When it comes to the training contract itself, again this is key - while you may have had your seat choices planned in your head for an eternity, it is very unlikely that you will get each and every one. So embrace any seat that is thrown at you and demonstrate your capability, but still speak up for what you want. This is your training contract after all.

Be confident, take yourself seriously and get used to the sound of your own voice

Presentations, dictation, participation in departmental meetings and the dreaded voicemail greeting which must be changed daily - you have all of this to look forward to!

Make connections

This is key to survival in every aspect of your legal career, not least as a trainee. Get to know your peers in your own and the previous trainee intake - they can provide you with invaluable inside knowledge and give you support when no one else understands what you’re going through. This applies not just within your firm, but to trainees at different firms, people you meet at events and so on. You never know when those connections could prove vital. Good luck!

Bekki Flood is a first-year trainee solicitor at Barlow Robbins Solicitors. She graduated from the University of Southampton in 2012, studied the LPC at The University of Law Guildford and worked as a paralegal for 18 months before commencing her training contract.