Trainee Talks: Lessons from my first seat

As I approach my two year anniversary of working at Thompson Smith and Puxon I am now almost over half way through my first seat of my training contract - how time flies!

For those just setting out on their law journey I would definitely recommend trying to gain some experience within a firm if the opportunity arises; apply for work experience and paralegal roles, get a feel for the firm and let them get to know you. I owe a huge amount to my 1.5 years of secretarial work at TSP alongside some fantastic Directors, Solicitors and Secretaries which, four months into my first seat, I can see was highly beneficial for me.

I have been lucky enough to sit my first seat in Wills and Estates. Throughout my studies and beyond, Wills and Estates was always an area I had a particular interest in so I was delighted to land here first.

Building client connections

With a background in hospitality I already had some awareness of how important the customer experience is. After all, without clients, there would be very little business! Wills and Estate is a perfect example of how important client interactions are. One of the biggest lessons I will take from my time with this team is how well they deliver a truly personal service. When working in this department you are representing members of the community, a lot of whom are facing some of the harder times of life. It is so important to encompass empathy and build rapport with your clients so that a certain level of trust is built. Although it is equally as important to carry out work to a very high standard in order to deliver the service for which we charge, the relationships we build with our clients also plays a huge role in our success.

I have been lucky enough to work alongside Georgia Bolton on Deputyship and Court of Protection matters and observed how Georgia delivers a high standard of care to her clients who, with her help, are trying to lawfully protect their loved ones. I have also been to many meetings with Fiona Ashworth with clients for whom she is sometimes the only source of protection in some of their most vulnerable times. The human element of the role is huge and it is so important to build people skills that ensure you can deal with all areas of the role.

Growth is uncomfortable

Another lesson learnt is that with discomfort, comes growth. Being a trainee can feel a little uncomfortable, both with the vulnerability of the unknown as well as being the new person in the team. At first it can feel a little overwhelming but I have found that trying not to fight against these feelings and instead embracing the change can have a much more positive impact all round.

Be your (professional) self

Although as trainees we of course must maintain professionalism at all times, try to do this with a sprinkle of your own unique self. If you have got to the stage where a firm has offered you a training contract, you can be fairly confident that they like you enough to want you as part of the firm’s future. By being as authentic as possible you will be able to get a feel for which area of law you might fall in love with. By bringing your authentic self to the role, you form genuine connections with the firm and its colleagues, which really helps with the overall enjoyment of your seat.

Mistakes are important 

You are going to make mistakes, lots of them. Allow yourself to feel comfortable with the fact that you are going through a learning process and try not to be too hard on yourself. Just don’t make the same mistake twice!

Moving forward

Something I wasn’t expecting was how much I have loved my first seat. You often hear and read a lot of ‘horror stories’ for trainees but honestly I have never been happier at work and a lot of this is owed to the fantastic team and firm I am part of. It is hard, tiring and at times overwhelming but that is what keeps it interesting and motivating. I personally love that every day in law is different and even though you undertake the same job daily it is never predictable.

My entire team have been so welcoming and although it has only been three months so far, I already feel like I will miss them terribly when I move on to my next seat. I have seen first-hand the importance of building good relationships with your colleagues in any which way you can.

Finally – it passes quickly! With my second seat already approaching I will try to soak up every minute and enjoy this exciting chapter of my career.