Trainee Talks: Musical chairs – Mastering the Art of Seat-shifting as a Trainee

“All things are difficult before they are easy.” Thomas Fuller

It has been a year since I started my training contract at TSP, and as I settle into my third seat, I notice that this is when we trainees tend to touch base with each other the most. Across all the areas of law you briefly encounter, each with its unique experiences, I can truly say that the only thing that stays consistent is the uncertainty of that first few weeks. The fish-out-of-water phenomenon is real, even if it is only in your head.

Within each seat, it takes time to build your knowledge, your confidence and your relationships. It is admittedly jarring to go from understanding (and even contributing to!) team discussions to again scouring your databases to look up precedents and knowledge that everyone already seems to have.

It helps to have your own plan in place for the first week. Although there are undoubtedly techniques for every different personality type, my preference is always to find out how the team works first. As a trainee, there is an expectation that you are there to be taught and it will soon be clear from your approach just how open you are to learning. What helps is to try to understand what most of the work is about and where you can find precedents and background reading, as well as how the team communicates and who is best equipped to support you in the way you need.

If possible, speak to the trainee who has just finished your seat. They’ll have the most insight to how the team works, what the trainees are normally responsible for, what you should be brushing up on, and whether there are specific cases to pay attention to. As an added bonus, for the trainee leaving the seat and experiencing exactly the same thing, it’s often a nice boost of confidence!

Lastly, sit down with your supervisor. Ask them how they like to be kept updated on your progress, ask how they give feedback, how they structure their cases, how they manage their workload, how they plan their day. Just ask. Be curious. Frankly, they’re expecting the questions.

You might find yourself wondering why a training contract is structured in this way. After all, you will not leave as an expert in any of the areas of law that you have experienced during your two (or more) years; six months just isn’t enough time. Instead, the training contract structure is designed to make sure that you have a holistic understanding of the law. It is a chance for you to see what kind of work you would like to do and what kind of solicitor you would like to be; whether that’s from picking up the good habits of the colleagues you see every day, or perhaps by avoiding the worst habits from legal professionals on the other side of a matter.

And as you learn about yourself, and the type of career you’d like to build for yourself, there are a few key things to remember.

Each seat will introduce you to a new way of doing something and each supervisor will have their preferences. You will of course learn technical skills like how to write a letter or an attendance note, or hold a client interview, or draft a Court document or a form. But as you grow throughout your training contract, you will be able to focus on getting the task right, rather than wondering where to start. You will learn how to problem-solve and you will realise that predominantly, a solicitor’s job is people-focused. Laws are wont to change, but solicitors are more than legal advisors; they are in the profession of problem-solving, and the soft skills you learn over your career will be your most valuable currency.