updated on 25 August 2020
Congratulations – you’re finally a trainee solicitor. Starting your career amidst a global pandemic, however, is unlikely to have been how you had imagined it would begin. Being a new starter is always a nervous experience which can be exacerbated by the remote working conditions. However, rest assured that remote working is a new way of life we’ve all had to adjust to and there isn’t a perfect way to do things. In this article, I will share some tips on how to navigate working from home as a trainee.
Video conferencing
Video conferencing tools have become a regular part of working life and has made working from home feel less disconnected. Although turning on your video isn’t compulsory there are benefits to doing so. For instance, seeing a face instead of staring at a name on-screen will help you to build a personal connection. This is especially important for first seaters who are relatively unknown. If you don’t turn your camera on it will make it more difficult to build rapport with your team. If you decide to appear on video, wearing office-friendly clothing will set a good impression. The aim is to appear presentable and professional. Finally, set yourself up with the optimal working conditions given your circumstances. This includes ensuring you have a good internet connection, access to stationary and an understanding with whoever you may share your space with. For example, try and give notice to the people you live with when you have important meetings to avoid being interrupted.
Supervisors and one-to-ones
By setting up regular (weekly or bi-weekly) catch-up sessions with your supervisor you can keep them informed about the work you’re doing and anything else you want to gain from your seat. You will most likely work for different fee-earners and since you’re working from home your supervisor will not have visibility over your capacity and the experience you are gaining in the seat. You can use the catch-up sessions to discuss the projects you’re on, how busy or quiet you are, and discuss your experience more openly. You may decide that you don’t need to use every catch-up session, however, it is helpful to have this in place. This is also a great way to hold yourself accountable and stay motivated when working from home.
Get involved
Sport and social clubs are another excellent way for you to expand your network and get to know the wider firm. Although you may be unable to participate in a club’s main activity, you can still get involved with the group chats and other social events such as quiz nights. This might seem trivial but it is an important source of feeling connected to the firm and a great way to meet like-minded colleagues. In addition, organise group calls and social events with other trainees as they are also in the same position as you. Your trainee cohort is an important resource with whom you can share your experiences and discuss how best to navigate through your training contract.
Find a buddy
Find a peer to discuss work and bounce ideas off. This can be a very important support network that allows you to turn to each other for a second opinion and reduce feelings of isolation. You may choose to motivate each other when working from home or use each other as a sounding board on how to approach tasks and situations. The makeup and benefit of this relationship is entirely up to you.
Keep an achievement record
Make a habit of writing down all your wins no matter how big or small. This could include small notes of praise or internal communications on completed deals. Keeping track of what you’ve accomplished can help you to stay motivated and feed into your catch-up sessions with your supervisor. This will also be a useful tool as you approach your appraisal and is a great way to stay accountable. For example, this will allow you to identify your strengths, weaknesses and areas for further development. It can also be a satisfying way to see the progress you’ve made.
I hope the above is helpful and good luck with your training contract!
Kishan Mathy is a trainee solicitor at CMS with a law-focused Instagram page offering advice and insight into life as a trainee.