OK, the title of this post actually refers to my flat rather than my job. I'm sure none of you are interested in my flat but suffice to say that I moved in last week (finally!) after sofa surfing with friends for 2 weeks, and my new flat has a few issues. There's some mould here and some leaking there and some garden debris everywhere, but all of that pales in comparison to the fact that I've had no internet all week! Seriously, it's been a nightmare. It's amazing how much I (and most civilised people) rely on it!!
Anyway, you didn't come here to read about that. So what can I tell you about my 3rd week at the firm? Well, just when I thought I was getting the hang of things, the difficulty was upped. I was asked to draft 3 witness statements from scratch from people who hardly spoke English, and I had to draft some instructions to counsel (which always sounds easier than it is) on a complex multi-track case. I guess it's good, it's what I want & need to be continually challenged, but it's more effort!
And as of Monday I will be taking charge of my own case load. That means I won't be doing bits and pieces of work for other peoples' cases, but making my own decisions and acting on my own behalf. I will still have supervision, of course, but I don't think they want me to get them to check everything I do before I send it out. That means I could easily make a big mistake, and that is scary! On the upside ... they must have a lot of faith in me?
On the other upside, I get paid at the end of this week. While I didn't go into this job for the money (and who would go through all those law courses and become a legal aid lawyer for the money??), it will be a welcome boost to my bank account. There are a lot of things I need to buy for the new flat. Ok, I don't NEED a 42" LED TV, but I want one : ) Just kidding, I can't afford one of those.
I'd better sign off. It's a Sunday and I need to chill out before what I'm sure will be a very stressful tomorrow. I already have a pile of mail to go through when I arrive u.u ... Tune in next week to see if I still have a job!
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Friday, 16 September 2011
Progress Report (2 weeks in)
Ok, there are a few things I want to write about this week.
Firstly, yes, everything is going great and I'm happy with the learning curve. Everybody is still very nice and I continue to meet new and interesting people. My work, I think, is steadily improving both in quality and in efficiency. I still have NO idea how people manage a caseload of 70+ though (and many lawyers do)!
This week & last week many of the paralegals who've been at the firm for years found out whether they were going to be offered a Training Contract at the firm, and needless to say most of them didn't get it. I was a little worried that there might be some tension between the paralegals and us new trainees who have just come in, but everything seems fine which is good!
Ok, that wasn't actually one of the things I wanted to write about, it just sort of came out (that's what she said?).
I did want to write about my first experience of doing work that was.... morally ambiguous. Basically, I didn't feel like I believed in the case. Not that I didn't believe it could win - actually it has quite good prospects - but reading through the file I found myself siding completely with the defendants! But I guess it's important to put those emotions aside and do a professional job. Do my best work and let the law decide who should win - that's how it works (in theory). I have to admit, though, I have found it easier and more enjoyable to work on a case where I can sympathise with the client. I've been told by more experienced lawyers that it's the sort of thing you quickly get used to, although some of them also said that they still sometimes go that extra mile when they really believe in a case. I'm not sure how much this applies to commercial law!
I have eliminated the basic, elementary errors that enreddened my face last week i.e. locking myself out of the office and accidentally turning off all the lights. The biggest mistake I made this week was calling a woman "Mr." on the phone. That's an improvement in my book :)
I'm happy it's the weekend as I got some stuff to do (I have to return some video tapes), but yeah, ROLL ON MONDAY!
**HERE FOLLOWS A RANT AGAINST COMMERCIAL LAW**
If you're not interested in my opinion on the differences between working in commercial law firms and working in smaller firms, there's no need to read on.
I have been chatting to some of my other TC friends who are at more commercial firms, and I gotta say it doesn't sound like they're enjoying it as much as me. Of course, they're getting paid a lot more than me, but I'm doing very reasonable hours (I can still have a life!), I'm doing work that I'm interested in, I love my colleagues, AND I feel like I'm getting a much higher quality of work than them. What I mean by that is that I'll be doing letters of claim, instructions to counsel, valuing injuries and being in direct contact with clients, whereas they'll be filing, making cups of tea, pouring over lengthy contracts to "check" them (for typos) and generally feeding their supervisors' egos. I'm sure I am exaggerating the remediality of their workload a tad, but the chances of getting your own cases at a large comemrcial firm is basically zero. At my (medium-sized) firm, many of the more experienced trainees get to run their own cases sometimes! I've been told that I may well be doing that soon, and while it sounds incredibly daunting having so much responsibility, ultimately it's going to make for fantastic training - it's like learning a language in another country, throwing yourself in the deep end for a fantastic learning experience, and you're unlikely to get that in a big firm.
OK, I'm biased against commercial law, but that's not entirely because all the commercial law firms rejected me (they didn't). I genuinely believe that a lot of what I just said is true, especially about the level of responsibility given. I think it's important for people to realise that being a lawyer doesn't have to mean the huge hours, huge salaries and huge pressures that come with commercial law. If you went to a law school like mine, you'd be forgiven for thinking that big city commercial law was the only type of firm worth going for. But you wouldn't be forgiven for putting too much milk in Mr. Topdog's tea. You'd have to work overnight to make up for that one.
Firstly, yes, everything is going great and I'm happy with the learning curve. Everybody is still very nice and I continue to meet new and interesting people. My work, I think, is steadily improving both in quality and in efficiency. I still have NO idea how people manage a caseload of 70+ though (and many lawyers do)!
This week & last week many of the paralegals who've been at the firm for years found out whether they were going to be offered a Training Contract at the firm, and needless to say most of them didn't get it. I was a little worried that there might be some tension between the paralegals and us new trainees who have just come in, but everything seems fine which is good!
Ok, that wasn't actually one of the things I wanted to write about, it just sort of came out (that's what she said?).
I did want to write about my first experience of doing work that was.... morally ambiguous. Basically, I didn't feel like I believed in the case. Not that I didn't believe it could win - actually it has quite good prospects - but reading through the file I found myself siding completely with the defendants! But I guess it's important to put those emotions aside and do a professional job. Do my best work and let the law decide who should win - that's how it works (in theory). I have to admit, though, I have found it easier and more enjoyable to work on a case where I can sympathise with the client. I've been told by more experienced lawyers that it's the sort of thing you quickly get used to, although some of them also said that they still sometimes go that extra mile when they really believe in a case. I'm not sure how much this applies to commercial law!
I have eliminated the basic, elementary errors that enreddened my face last week i.e. locking myself out of the office and accidentally turning off all the lights. The biggest mistake I made this week was calling a woman "Mr." on the phone. That's an improvement in my book :)
I'm happy it's the weekend as I got some stuff to do (I have to return some video tapes), but yeah, ROLL ON MONDAY!
**HERE FOLLOWS A RANT AGAINST COMMERCIAL LAW**
If you're not interested in my opinion on the differences between working in commercial law firms and working in smaller firms, there's no need to read on.
I have been chatting to some of my other TC friends who are at more commercial firms, and I gotta say it doesn't sound like they're enjoying it as much as me. Of course, they're getting paid a lot more than me, but I'm doing very reasonable hours (I can still have a life!), I'm doing work that I'm interested in, I love my colleagues, AND I feel like I'm getting a much higher quality of work than them. What I mean by that is that I'll be doing letters of claim, instructions to counsel, valuing injuries and being in direct contact with clients, whereas they'll be filing, making cups of tea, pouring over lengthy contracts to "check" them (for typos) and generally feeding their supervisors' egos. I'm sure I am exaggerating the remediality of their workload a tad, but the chances of getting your own cases at a large comemrcial firm is basically zero. At my (medium-sized) firm, many of the more experienced trainees get to run their own cases sometimes! I've been told that I may well be doing that soon, and while it sounds incredibly daunting having so much responsibility, ultimately it's going to make for fantastic training - it's like learning a language in another country, throwing yourself in the deep end for a fantastic learning experience, and you're unlikely to get that in a big firm.
OK, I'm biased against commercial law, but that's not entirely because all the commercial law firms rejected me (they didn't). I genuinely believe that a lot of what I just said is true, especially about the level of responsibility given. I think it's important for people to realise that being a lawyer doesn't have to mean the huge hours, huge salaries and huge pressures that come with commercial law. If you went to a law school like mine, you'd be forgiven for thinking that big city commercial law was the only type of firm worth going for. But you wouldn't be forgiven for putting too much milk in Mr. Topdog's tea. You'd have to work overnight to make up for that one.
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (1 week in)
Having read through my Training Contract, I decided that the terms were acceptable and so I put pen to paper. Although the inspection was something of a formality (like I was going to refuse my TC now!), I figured it'd be pretty un-lawyerly of me not to read it. Actually I was pleasantly surprised by some of it, and I can happily say the same thing about my first week at the firm.
Although it is an awfully steep learning curve and I have at times felt very daunted, I am really enjoying it. I feel a sense of accomplishment whenever I complete a bit of work, and the feedback I receive is generally positive and constructive. The hours go by very quickly (perhaps even too quickly!) which is in stark contrast to most of the jobs I've held in the past. Not once have I glanced at the time this week and wished it were later and I think that's a good sign!
I'm starting to find myself connecting what I learnt on my LPC with what I'm doing now, which is a huge help because if I understood something back then, I should be able to put it into practice now. One of my big worries before starting was that everything would be very different to the LPC and while it's not exactly the same, I feel like I do at least have a basic idea of what I'm doing.
Also, everyone has been extremely accommodating with me during the first week. I'm still waiting to meet someone at the firm who isn't nice! I don't feel pressured and they have allowed me time to take things in and learn the ropes. I don't know if this is the same everywhere, but I get the impression that other firms (particularly the big ones) are far more demanding from the outset. I'm sure that in a few weeks they will expect me to be getting close to the daily chargeable hour targets, but I really appreciate how everybody is easing us in rather than dropping us in!
It hasn't all been plain sailing. There was a slightly awkward moment when I found myself in conversation with the Senior Partner and wasn't totally sure what to say. There was also the time I accidentally locked myself out of my office when I nipped out for a moment. Perhaps most embarrassingly was the time I was walking out of the office, tried to press the door release button, but accidentally turned off all the lights in the office! Needless to say, I made a hasty apology and exit. I think I can get away with it once, but I really don't want to become known as "that" guy!
On a more serious note, as I alluded to earlier I know that they won't be this patient with me forever. I'm still a little afraid of what might be expected of me after the honeymoon period is over. I feel like I'm Hitler and I've just taken over Austria, but I know that I will have to go after Britain or Russia soon. OK, that analogy has probably put me in a terrible light.. but ... well, you know what I mean!
Anyway... overall, yes, I am settling in nicely. :-) It has been an enjoyable week and I hope it continues in this direction. That said, I'm glad the weekend has arrived because I'm very, very tired!
By the way, I found out how much an hour of my time is worth - a lot!!
Although it is an awfully steep learning curve and I have at times felt very daunted, I am really enjoying it. I feel a sense of accomplishment whenever I complete a bit of work, and the feedback I receive is generally positive and constructive. The hours go by very quickly (perhaps even too quickly!) which is in stark contrast to most of the jobs I've held in the past. Not once have I glanced at the time this week and wished it were later and I think that's a good sign!
I'm starting to find myself connecting what I learnt on my LPC with what I'm doing now, which is a huge help because if I understood something back then, I should be able to put it into practice now. One of my big worries before starting was that everything would be very different to the LPC and while it's not exactly the same, I feel like I do at least have a basic idea of what I'm doing.
Also, everyone has been extremely accommodating with me during the first week. I'm still waiting to meet someone at the firm who isn't nice! I don't feel pressured and they have allowed me time to take things in and learn the ropes. I don't know if this is the same everywhere, but I get the impression that other firms (particularly the big ones) are far more demanding from the outset. I'm sure that in a few weeks they will expect me to be getting close to the daily chargeable hour targets, but I really appreciate how everybody is easing us in rather than dropping us in!
It hasn't all been plain sailing. There was a slightly awkward moment when I found myself in conversation with the Senior Partner and wasn't totally sure what to say. There was also the time I accidentally locked myself out of my office when I nipped out for a moment. Perhaps most embarrassingly was the time I was walking out of the office, tried to press the door release button, but accidentally turned off all the lights in the office! Needless to say, I made a hasty apology and exit. I think I can get away with it once, but I really don't want to become known as "that" guy!
On a more serious note, as I alluded to earlier I know that they won't be this patient with me forever. I'm still a little afraid of what might be expected of me after the honeymoon period is over. I feel like I'm Hitler and I've just taken over Austria, but I know that I will have to go after Britain or Russia soon. OK, that analogy has probably put me in a terrible light.. but ... well, you know what I mean!
Anyway... overall, yes, I am settling in nicely. :-) It has been an enjoyable week and I hope it continues in this direction. That said, I'm glad the weekend has arrived because I'm very, very tired!
By the way, I found out how much an hour of my time is worth - a lot!!
Monday, 5 September 2011
Personally Injured
I travelled to work this morning feeling surprisingly neutral. I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be nervous! All week/month, people have been asking me if I was nervous to be starting, and all week/month I have been replying "No, but I'm sure I will be soon!". In reality, I headed into those offices feeling more excited than anything.
All the new trainees I had met previously had been extremely pleasant, as had the partners and support staff. I thought it had just been luck but actually it seems like pretty much everyone at the firm is nice! The more I learn about the firm and the people there, the more confident I am that it was exactly where I want to be. So glad I didn't go into commercial law (though I'm sure commercial lawyers are nice too... sometimes).
The morning consisted of an induction detailing the requirements of the training contract and how the firm intends to teach us all the skills I need to know. It was fairly standard stuff and I think all us trainees came out of it content and ready.... for lunch! Yes, I was very hungry by this point. My coco pops breakfast hadn't proved sufficient. Tomorrow I will throw in some toast for good measure.
So all the trainees went out for lunch and at this point I really felt we were all starting to gel. I also realised that we would probably not see each other that much at work because we all have our own supervisors and work on different cases. Regardless, we are the newbies, the ducklings desperately flapping to stay afloat in the Atlantic, and I think that gives us reason enough to stick together!
We returned to the office and I was then taken to meet my supervisor and led to my desk for the next 6 months. I had a big pack of BUSINESS CARDS with my name on! How exciting!! Then I had a long chat with my supervisor and she, like everyone else, is very nice. She has given me a number of documents which detail the procedural side of personal injury at the firm. I also had a plethora of human resources things to work my way through.
I'd like to have put some more thought into this post, but I have a bunch of things to read through (such as the training contract itself, which I need to sign!) so I must end it here. I doubt I'll have time to update this blog daily, but I'm aiming to write at least once a week. See you soon!
All the new trainees I had met previously had been extremely pleasant, as had the partners and support staff. I thought it had just been luck but actually it seems like pretty much everyone at the firm is nice! The more I learn about the firm and the people there, the more confident I am that it was exactly where I want to be. So glad I didn't go into commercial law (though I'm sure commercial lawyers are nice too... sometimes).
The morning consisted of an induction detailing the requirements of the training contract and how the firm intends to teach us all the skills I need to know. It was fairly standard stuff and I think all us trainees came out of it content and ready.... for lunch! Yes, I was very hungry by this point. My coco pops breakfast hadn't proved sufficient. Tomorrow I will throw in some toast for good measure.
So all the trainees went out for lunch and at this point I really felt we were all starting to gel. I also realised that we would probably not see each other that much at work because we all have our own supervisors and work on different cases. Regardless, we are the newbies, the ducklings desperately flapping to stay afloat in the Atlantic, and I think that gives us reason enough to stick together!
We returned to the office and I was then taken to meet my supervisor and led to my desk for the next 6 months. I had a big pack of BUSINESS CARDS with my name on! How exciting!! Then I had a long chat with my supervisor and she, like everyone else, is very nice. She has given me a number of documents which detail the procedural side of personal injury at the firm. I also had a plethora of human resources things to work my way through.
I'd like to have put some more thought into this post, but I have a bunch of things to read through (such as the training contract itself, which I need to sign!) so I must end it here. I doubt I'll have time to update this blog daily, but I'm aiming to write at least once a week. See you soon!
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Going through the Emotions
I hate nostalgia. It's probably the one thing that most ruins new experiences and life changes, even when they are for the better. It's a feeling that gives you a longing for something you can never have: the past. It's like being in love with Julius Caesar or Lara Croft, although in those cases at least there are lookalikes.
There's also the fact that I am feeling nostalgic at a time about which I will, years from now, also feel nostalgic. "At least you have happy memories", you say? "Bleh!", I say back. I want to be back at university, or back at school, or even back to my childhood when the only thing I was worried about was getting my own way.
Come to think of it, that's still the only thing I'm worried about, it's just a lot harder to do.
...
Anyway, as you have probably deduced by now, I'm a little apprehensive of starting tomorrow. Apprehensive, but not nervous. I spent the day packing and sorting out my old room which led to a good deal of reminiscence. Amplifying my nostal-gism were feelings of inadequacy (much like the time I challenged Morgan Freeman to a story-reading contest). What if I suck at being a lawyer? Have I wasted 6 years of my life? Is this *really* what I want to do with my life?? Sure, I’ve had experience working in law firms and I have a basic idea of what it’ll be like, but what is the reality? Will I enjoy it?
On the other hand, I'm also very excited about the prospect of putting into practice all the things I have learnt, and making a real difference to peoples' lives. It will also be nice to have a steady, respectable (though not astronomical) income. The alternative could be me still desperately searching for a Training Contract, doing donkey work and scraping a living together - and I'm well-aware that many law graduates are in that situation! So yes, I count myself fortunate to have this opportunity. So far I am pretty confident that I will enjoy being at my law firm. Everybody seems extremely pleasant and ultimately if I like the people then I will enjoy being at my job. And that should help me produce my best work, right?
So, to wrap this post up, I think we all feel a mixture of emotions when we're about to take a big step into the unknown. Many of us may feel as though we want to stay in (or go back to) the safe zone, where we’re comfortable and familiar. But nostalgia is to the mind what alcohol is to the eyes. If I were offered a chance to satisfy that feeling and not start this new career, would I take it? No, I wouldn’t, and not only because we look back on the past with beer goggles. Everybody has their own goals in life, but I believe it’s universally important to continually develop and grow. To do this we need to take on new things and challenge ourselves. I’m reminded of Lord Tennyson’s poem Ulysses, but now’s not the time for that.
Now’s the time to kick back and watch Live at the Apollo with a cup of tea. J
Test
While I'm a seasoned YouTuber and I get on pretty well with Twitter, this "blogging" thing is new to me. I mean, it's not really the same as Twitter, is it? Twitter is just a website for glorified Facebook statuses, whereas on this I'm apparently supposed to write MORE than 140 characters per post? Madness!
Well, about me.... I'm just about to start my training contract in London and I figured it would be nice to keep this blog. For now I'm writing it just for myself, and possibly a few friends who might be interested in hearing about my experiences, but I guess I might go public with it some day. And because I'm a little worried about saying something I shouldn't, I'm choosing to remain safely anonymous just like Princess Leia.
I will update the blog as often as I can, though I suspect it'd be a bit naive to think I could update it every day.
I think that's enough babbling for now. I'll do my first proper post later.
Well, about me.... I'm just about to start my training contract in London and I figured it would be nice to keep this blog. For now I'm writing it just for myself, and possibly a few friends who might be interested in hearing about my experiences, but I guess I might go public with it some day. And because I'm a little worried about saying something I shouldn't, I'm choosing to remain safely anonymous just like Princess Leia.
I will update the blog as often as I can, though I suspect it'd be a bit naive to think I could update it every day.
I think that's enough babbling for now. I'll do my first proper post later.
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