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!