So what can you do to prepare yourself for the challenges ahead? Experience in the working world will do much to prepare you for a training contract as you will learn how to interact in a working environment, deal with clients and organise your time - all vital skills a solicitor must possess. Why not seek work in an industry relevant to your training? For example, a role in an HR department complements employment law, work in a business helps to sharpen your commercial acumen or a job involving lots of interaction with people improves your confidence in dealing with clients.

You could also consider doing volunteer work. For example, Citizens Advice runs free legal advice centres (as do other local organisations) and are often looking for volunteers with legal qualifications. Getting involved in something like this is great practice at advising clients, not to mention the satisfaction of all those good deeds.

Keep your finger on the pulse by regularly browsing the legal press. We explain how in one of our earlier answers, which can be found here. And don't forget to check out the regular news stories and Burning Question (designed to help sharpen your commercial acumen) on LawCareers.Net.

Finally, your firm would not have offered you a training contract without being fairly confident that you could handle the challenges that will face you. Recruiters tend to be pretty good at sussing out potential trainees - after all, the commitment costs them an average of £250,000 per individual. So, a bit of faith in your own abilities will go a long way!