Festivities

I came across this survey online a few weeks ago which suggests that those in the legal field are second from top at being the most drunk and disorderly at a Christmas party.  This would come as a shock to most people, but could this be true? What happened to the typical 'boring' and 'stuffy' stereotyped lawyers that we appear to be to the general public? Well I had the opportunity to find out...

My firm held its annual Christmas party recently and this was my first Christmas party with the firm, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I wore heels that were way too high (being 5'1, sometimes these things have to be done) and a sparkly dress, to get me into the festive spirit. The drinks were flowing, the dancing was...questionable at some points but the food was also lovely.

It's always interesting to see your colleagues when under the influence.  Outside of the office, most people are more relaxed, the stress from the working day has disappeared and the talk is a lot less formal. You're able to get to know each other personally rather than professionally. However, when there's alcohol involved, anything can happen.

I'm not sure how much I had to drink, the wine was free and I kept getting 'topped up', so in terms of glasses, I'm not able to count.  Needless to say there was a lot.

From my judgement of the work Christmas party, I can't say that I saw anyone falling over, but in all honesty, I don't remember too much of the night myself!  However, in the past at previous firms, I know that some nights do tend to get very, very messy.

I would say that this night was rather tame compared previous nights, maybe that has something to do with the fact that the senior partners were present. But would you agree that lawyers are the worst drinkers? I wouldn't say that the Christmas party would be a reflection of this. But in general, I'd say yes, it's always the one's that you least expect. How else does everyone expect us to relax?

5 things to ask your Training Supervisor

At some points, you may find yourself bogged down in the work you are trying to learn during your seat.  You may find yourself at a point where you're trying to sift through everything and forget to actually utilise the lawyers that you are assisting. Sound familiar to you? Well here are my five important things to always ask your training supervisor or any lawyer that you are working with:

1. Why? - a massive importance when learning.  You may have done something wrong, it's ok, we all do. But are you sure why you made that mistake and why the work is projected differently in practice? Always ask why in order to grab an understanding of the work you are producing.  There is no point in working on something and not knowing what it is for (They also love it when you show an interest).

2. Can I Come? - If your supervisor/lawyer is meeting with a client, ask to go! Why shouldn't you miss out on experiencing a lawyer give advice? Just because you haven't initially been invited, doesn't mean they don't want you to join them. It's the simple fact of if you don't ask, you don't get.

3. When do you need this done by? - A simple question, but if you don't ask, other work may take a priority and if that piece was urgent, you have a problem.  Always ask when the lawyer needs their work done by so that you can prioritise your work properly.

4. What would you consider to be the most challenging part of your job? - This might seem staged as such, but you've been given the opportunity to work, in most firms, four areas of law. You may as well weigh out the pros and cons for all of them!

5. How am I getting on? - A seat is six months long, even though it flies by it is still a long time.  Appraisals can be set for every three months, but I think it's a good idea to check up on how you're doing regularly.  Sometimes it can be easy to get stuck in a routine so just asking if your work is up to standard is a good idea  (Do get ready for a knife to the heart though if you're in a seat that is not to your taste). If the feedback isn't good, ask what you can do to improve.

So those are my five most important things to ask your training supervisor/lawyer.  This is all my opinion though and there may be something that works better for you, but I hope this helps!!

Networking

For someone entering the legal industry at a young age and fresh out of education, the art of networking has always seemed rather daunting and intimidating.

The procedure of being forced into a room with strange people and being expected to engage in small talk is partly mind boggling. I always wonder what the best thing to say even is, what's appropriate? And in my case (for Mrs Motor Mouth), what's too inappropriate? On top of this, the idea of talking to other professionals who have a lifetime of experience in their field compared to you is, to be honest, terrifying.

I was invited to a networking event for young professionals which was organised by Brewin Dolphin (www.brewin.co.uk). I wasn't sure what to expect because as much as I enjoy meeting new people, I was hoping it wasn't going to be artificial and somewhat 'awkward'. I attended with a Paralegal at my firm so we had a mini team, and we had each other to turn to if we were ever stuck in an awkward situation.

The event was held in a pub based in my local town and it was a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be! (no offence intended there). Most people were between the ages of 19-27 and either starting their careers in their chosen field or qualified by only a few years. (Even better, there was a tab running at the bar).

I found it a lot easier to speak to those that were around my age, we were able to talk about the struggles of qualifying in our chosen fields and how we were getting on at our current stages.  I even noticed some familiar faces from previous events, so it was nice to see that those from local companies are also attending events regularly.

I'd like to get to know a few more young people in the area and I will definitely attend further events when they arise, but it was a great start as a young professional in the heart of Suffolk.  Hopefully one day I can say that I can network confidently!

First Seat

So the time finally came, 1 December 2015 I was officially made a Trainee Solicitor! I was moved to the Corporate and Commercial department for my first seat and I had no idea what to expect. I was absolutely drained from my weekend away and I was nervous about working with a new team.  I was quite surprised at how nervous I actually felt considering I already knew the team, I had just never worked with them before.

I was going back to square one, knowing absolutely nothing.  For the past two and a half years I've worked in property and that's all I've really known, minus the LPC. However by studying the LPC part-time, the last time I looked at my business notes was in February/March 2014...a long, LONG time ago.

The first day was a blur, it consisted of HR, induction and team meetings. Not only that, I'd moved myself into a new office and needed to settle in. It's a lot quieter than my old office as there are only two people, including me!

A lot of information was thrown at me, but I began to settle by the end of the week. What I've liked about the Corporate and Commercial department so far is that every piece of work I've been given is for a different area of Co/Co. No more leases or legal charges!!

Initially I had raised concerns with my supervisor that I may not know much, but he was very understanding and reassured me that they don't expect me to know too much which made me feel a lot better.

I was introduced to the Professional Skills Course (PSC) and my training diary at the start of the week.  Little me thought I'd be doing almost the same things as a Paralegal!  I'm required to complete a weekly diary to record my development and discuss with my supervisor.  Needless to say that was an instant reminder put into my calendar! I've also booked my core modules for the PSC in March and June. I've been told it's not something to be worried about, so I'm not feeling particularly concerned

Towards the end of the week I was introduced to my mentor. I'd never met my mentor before as she works in a part of the office that I've never needed to access so I had no idea what to expect. She was absolutely lovely, someone that I believe I could confide in and have a laugh with.

Overall my first week was enjoyable.  I think that Corporate and Commercial Law is something that I'm going to enjoy, but I do have about six months left, so only time will tell!!

Amsterdam

This is more of a personal post, but I thought why not.  I've just come back from a weekend in Amsterdam, I haven't been abroad since I was 15 (sad, I know!) so I was extremely excited about this trip.  It was a long weekend from Friday to Monday and I definitely recommend this city to anyone who is considering a visit.

I stayed at the Albus Hotel in Amsterdam City Centre (see above) which is walking distance to all tourist attractions. It was great value for money and I even received a free upgrade on my room when I checked in. So as a heads up, if they ask you if you'd like to upgrade for a certain amount a night say no first because they may upgrade you anyway!  There was also a wide selection for breakfast which was lovely, I definitely stuffed myself to set me up for every day.

There was so much to do in the city and some amazing places to eat. I would recommend a restaurant called 'Hummbar' which serves lobster and burger dishes.  They even cater to gluten free allergies so that was a great bonus for me.  It was interesting to experience the culture there, I took a stroll through the red light district and it was like looking into a completely different world.  I was amazed at how normal this part of the city was considered to those that live there.  

One of my highlights was taking a canal cruise through the city, this lasted approximately an hour and it took you to the main sites.  It was so much better being able to sit and see everything rather than walk everywhere! 

Another personal highlight was the Heineken Experience, not something that I thought I would enjoy as I don't drink beer.  Nevertheless, the experience was fun and appealed to those of all ages and genders.

I'm quite sad that I wasn't able to stay longer, but it was a good break that I needed, and it was perfectly timed. The day I came back to work was the day I became a Trainee Solicitor!

Last Week in Commercial Property

We're now in the final week of November (give or take) which means that I'm in my final week  of working in the Commercial Property department at my firm.  I've worked in property, both residential and commercial since graduating in June 2013. It was never something that I had a specific interest in as I didn't particularly enjoy studying land law at University, but when I graduated there were a lot of property jobs available, which is how I found myself working in this area.

By working with a mixture of residential and commercial transactions, it's easy for me to say that Commercial Property appeals to me more than residential.  I find that residential transactions, most of the time, are quite similar and there is not enough variety in it. I've found that the difference with commercial transactions, is that the procedure is tailored specifically to the business buying/selling or taking a lease on the property.  Moreover, legal research is required on certain aspects that would not be required for residential property which allows me to gain further knowledge in the areas which are more difficult to work on.

Although property is not my main choice of practice, I've still enjoyed working in this area and I've really enjoyed working with the Commercial Property team at my firm.

The first seat of my training contract is going to be in the Corporate and Commercial department. This is something that I am looking forward to experiencing.  I've enjoyed working with businesses in the property department, but I feel that I would prefer working with the actual businesses and not just for their property transactions.

I'm really excited to get going, and what's even more exciting is that right before my training contract starts I will be travelling to Amsterdam for a long weekend.  It's very exciting times for me at the moment, I shall post again once I am back from Amsterdam. Bon Voyage!

"Do you watch Suits?"

As a young female I spent the best parts of 2014 and 2015 on the dating scene.  Many first dates were enjoyable (or not so), but I noticed that each male had one thing in common.

As soon as I told my dates that I was a Paralegal I always received the same response, "Oh so, do you watch Suits?". On the odd occasion what would follow was "There's this really fit Paralegal on there called Rachel, do you do what she does?"

During this period I had no free time due to working and studying at the same time so I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about.  I didn't have enough time to think let alone watch a whole box set about American law firms.

Now that I've finished the LPC, I've decided to take up watching Suits to see what all the fuss is about, and to see whether the programme gives the British public a false representation of what lawyers do.

I can now see what everyone was talking about, it is a really, really addictive show.  I can somewhat empathise with 'Mike Ross', the Associate who works for 'Harvey Specter'.  Albeit he has no legal education, but I sometimes chuckle and relate to the way he struggles to find what he needs to do in order to meet a deadline.

It can be testing for graduates new to a law firm, finding out how they run on a daily basis and also being assigned work from, sometimes, various fee earners which could all be urgent at the same time. I was happy to see that this was being reflected in the show for different characters, and that it wasn't telling the audience that we instantly know exactly what we're doing all of the time.

It's a show that I'm going to continue to watch, and I'm sure there will be a lot more 'chuckling' throughout the seasons.

End of Education

It only feels like yesterday that I walked into the University of Law in September 2013 with my suitcase ready to be filled with books.  It's safe to say that I didn't know what I was getting into. Studying part-time and working full-time, I look back now and think 'how on earth did I do that?'. For the past two years I've been continuously tired and wondering when I'd have the time to relax without the guilt of not doing any work, now I can say that I can!

This week my certificate came through to say that I'd completed the LPC. (I really need to put that somewhere safe).  It almost feels like this is the certificate to say 'you're free to go!'.  It's been a long time coming and I'm so relieved to have my evenings and weekends back, every LPC graduate knows exactly how I feel. However, I sometimes find myself a little lost in the evenings as I feel like I should still be studying.  I seem to be watching a lot more TV, and I'm not sure if this is a good thing. Maybe I should buy some books, I genuinely can't remember the last time I read a book purely for enjoyment!

It's hard to get to grips with the fact that I've had the security of education since I can remember and now I've been set free into the big wide world.  I'm still trying to figure out my new lifestyle, my workouts at the gym after work seem to be getting longer as I find myself bored when I get home.  I guess I just have one of those minds that finds it hard to relax.

But it's done and I'm happy that I don't have to sit any more exams (save the Professional Skills Course). And for the first time in a long, long time I can enjoy Christmas this year without revision or coursework!

Breakfast

Every two weeks I represent my firm at a Bob Club which is a 'business over breakfast' club (see link: http://www.bobclubs.com/).  These breakfast meetings give local businesses a chance to come together, network and refer work to one another over a lovely fried breakfast.  The meetings I attend are held at Bears Boutique Bowling Bar and American Restaurant in Ipswich, Suffolk. (link: http://www.bearsbaripswich.co.uk/)

Each business owner has the opportunity to stand and talk to the rest of the group for approx. 60 seconds about their business.  Each time I speak about my firm, I tend to focus on what my firm is looking for and what makes my firm different from the rest.

These meetings are very different to the normal way of networking.  There is no pressure to force referrals between one another and it is not the standard 'stand in a room and try to speak to as many people as possible' networking event.

At each meeting there are usually a few visitors so I have to introduce myself and state where I am from.  For the first time this week I was able to tell everyone that I had passed my exams and that I will be a Trainee Solicitor in December.  Everyone was pleased for me and it was great that I could share my progress with them.

I am always looking for ways to expand the firm and generate more business, and I feel that the Bob Club has already done a lot for the firm.  On top of the business side, I also get a lovely fry up every two weeks!

I'm looking forward to the next meeting, I will have a 10 minute slot to talk about me, the firm, and why I chose to work at my firm.  I'm not the most confident person when speaking in front of people so this will do me the world of good to try and gain more confidence. As someone who is new to the business world, I always try to put myself in situations that will give me more confidence and experience. The Bob Club certainly helps me with this and I will continue to go in order to help develop myself and my firm.

Bonding

It's that time of year when law firms are hiring new trainees, paralegals and law graduates. I've always been one for socialising, and I believe that it's vital to get to know those that you will spend approx 40 hours a week with, properly.

At my firm, sometimes it can be difficult to speak to everyone.  The office consists of four converted historic buildings, and therefore our individual offices can be hiding down separate hall ways or in areas that you wouldn't need to access. 

I decided to hold a bonding session for those ranging from Paralegal/Legal Assistant up to newly qualified Solicitor.  After a long week at work we went for burger and chips at a local bar & grill to get to know one another outside of the office. The evening was a success and it was great to speak to my colleagues outside of the working environment, particularly those that I don't get to see much. Everyone talked about what stage they were currently at in their careers and where they would like to be in the future.  There were a lot of 'I have no idea what I want do's, but that's all part of workingup the legal ladder!  There are so many areas to qualify in, sometimes it seems impossible finding one area to work in upon qualification.

I have been with my firm since May, and within these six months the firm has hired a handful of law graduates for a variety of positions, I almost feel like part of the furniture already! We have already taken on our Trainee Solicitor for September 2016 who is currently a Paralegal whilst completing the Legal Practice Course.  We have also hired other legal assistants which hold law degrees.

It's great that there is a group of us that are currently going through the same process but at different stages.  This way we are able to ask each other any questions we may have and seek advice from each other.  The aim of the bonding evening was to make everyone feel comfortable enough to ask questions and seek advice, no matter how simple it may be.

As the evening was a success, I will definitely be organising another evening together. Plus, as you can see by the photo, the burger was delicious!

"Would you like a chocolate?"

It's always hard trying to make the law sound cool to students who are not sure what they want to do in the future.  I found myself in this situation when representing my firm at the Suffolk Skills Show this morning.

Students upon students  between the ages of 12 and 18 attended the careers event and I, being a law enthusiast really enjoyed talking to the students about the journey towards being a Solicitor.  I also, however, saw the students' faces drop with boredom the longer I spoke.

Some of the students were certain that they were going to be criminal lawyers and stand in front of a judge, screaming across a courtroom. I felt somewhat cruel crushing their dreams by telling them that everything they see on the television isn't always true.

With most of the students, it was easier to start with the question "do you enjoy reading?". I felt it was extremely important to let them know that if they were to pursue a career in law, they would have their head in the books for the rest of their career.

Another question I would ask was "do you know how long it takes to qualify as a Solicitor?". I decided that before pursuing a career in law the students needed to be made aware of this, the legal journey is a long one!  A lot of the students were unaware that it takes 6 years to qualify and once I had made them aware of this, they started to consider alternative careers.

As talking about the law can be extremely boring to some, what could I do to make the conversation better? Chocolate, it's always a winner. I even found myself eating a few too many!  Some took the chocolate as we engaged in conversation, others took the chocolate and ran. You can't win them all!

Today was extremely beneficial, it was like looking at myself 7 years ago when I attended similar events.  I was as helpful as I could be, particularly to those who were seriously considering a career in law. I know exactly how they felt, hundreds of companies talking at you for the day can make the whole day seem a blur.

It was hard to make the law sound cool, however it was great to use my social skills and be able to talk in front of a group of people confidently.  I hope that I was able to encourage students to pursue a career in law and let them know that it's a hard, long journey but an enjoyable one at the same time.