From Student to Solicitor

Sheena was admitted as a Solicitor in 2009 and joined Osborne Morris & Morgan in December 2011.  She is a specialist Family lawyer, having worked exclusively in this field since 2007.  Her hobbies include travelling, fine dining, reading and watching films.

1.  Who/what inspired you to be a solicitor?

When I was a teenager I attended a local solicitors firm with my parents, who were at that time arranging for their Wills to be amended.  I recall being impressed at the fact that the solicitor knew so much about her field and also that she was able to quickly and proficiently answer my parents’ questions. I liked the advisory element of the job and that was a major factor in my decision to study law.

2.  What academic route did you take to qualify as a solicitor?  Would you do it differently if you had your time again?

I did a three year law degree followed by the Legal Practice Course. I spent a few years gaining legal experience before starting my training contract and qualifying. If I had my time again, I would be tempted to study a non-law degree as I never realised that it was possible to qualify without going down the “traditional” route of the law degree.

 3.  What things do you wish you had known before starting your legal career?

That it can very difficult to obtain a training contract even after studying the LPC and that the value of previous legal experience should never be overlooked.

4.  What are the best and worst things about working in family law?

The best thing is obtaining a good result for the client and the personal satisfaction that follows – this can be achieving a fair financial settlement so that you know your client will be able to live following a separation, to securing their interest in the family home or obtaining access to their children. The worst thing is hearing the sometimes very sad circumstances that have lead that client to take legal advice; whether it be how their relationship has broken down, to domestic violence issues.

5.  Are you still happy with the area of law that you qualified into?  Would you change your specialism given the chance?

I love working in family law as the variety in the type of work that I do is huge. I would not choose to go into any other area.

6.  What is the most valuable thing that you have learnt that can’t be found in a law textbook?

How to relate to a client. People skills are not frequently taught, but a successful family lawyer will be able to communicate effectively with their client and understand their needs, as well as be able to handle the legal aspects.

• 7.  What does a typical day look like for you?

After dealing with any urgent matters in the first instance, my day is comprised of seeing clients, drafting agreements, analysing financial disclosure, putting together settlement offers and also ensuring that all files are up to date.

8.  What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Obtaining a Leave to Remove Order for a mother who wanted to move with her child to Kyrgyzstan, when the father was fiercely opposed to this. The case was extremely complex and necessitated a selection of experts and research generally, so we were really pleased to have obtained the Order when the outcome was initially quite bleak.

9.  Describe your law firm in three words.

Modern, dynamic, dedicated.

10.  What do you believe are the key motivators and qualities required in order to succeed and enjoy a career in law?

I think no matter which area you choose to practice in, you have to have a genuine interest and passion for it, as not only will you enjoy the work more, but will probably do a better job for your client!

11.  Do you have any advice for students looking to start a career in law?

Get as much legal work experience as possible as the market is extremely competitive and you need to make yourself stand out. It will also give you a feel for the law and help you decide whether or not it really is for you.

“Don’t let anyone, or any rejection, keep you from what you want” – Ashley Tisdale

So, you’ve been sending out your CV like crazy and maybe you’ve even had a few interviews. But all that keeps hitting the mat is rejection letters. I’m not going to lie to you – it hurts. If you’ve been keeping a record of all of your applications, like I recommended in this post, it may be starting to fill up and this can get depressing. I had 50-60 rejection letters before I got a training contract and I thought about giving up more than once!

Here are my top ten tips on how to deal with rejection until you get that congratulatory phone call!

1. Don’t take it personally

I know that this is easier said than done, but you really must try not to take it to heart. The partner/practice manager who has made the decision to reject your application was not rejecting you as a person. They were making a business decision based on their firm’s specific criteria which may or may not have anything to do with how you came across on paper or in the interview. The fact that you didn’t match their criteria doesn’t mean that you are not an outstanding candidate with excellent skills and talents.

Unfortunately, only one person can get each job so all it means is that there was another candidate who was better suited to this particular role. It’s ok – there’s another position out there with your name on it!

2. Don’t bring up the past

It is a sad fact of life that every time we face rejection, our brains naturally recall all of our past failures as a way of trying to cope. This brings back all of the negative feelings that went with those events and it starts a downward spiral. Stay in the present and don’t let past events fill up your mind. Every day is a new day and every application is a fresh opportunity to get a training contract. This in turn will help your positivity and enthusiasm for the job shine through in your application, voice and body language.

3. Focus on your strengths.

It’s easy to blame yourself and focus on your weaknesses when faced with a job rejection. Concentrate on what you are really good at and where your passions lie.  Remember that no-one is perfect and don’t beat yourself up. 

You have excellent skills and talents that will be perfectly suited to another company and training contract – it’s all about finding your perfect fit.  If you are struggling to be positive  – ask your friends and colleague what they would list as your strengths.  We are so often focused on the negatives that we can’t see what is so amazing about ourselves!

4. Review your Applications

As I recommended in my last post, you should keep a record of all the applications and letters that you send out in your search for a training contract.  This will help you to learn from the experience if you do get rejected.  What would you have done differently? By spending time reviewing applications, we focus on learning and growth which helps us to move forward. You also need to reflect on your approach – whether that be the contact phone call, email, cover letter or your CV – to see if there’s something you could improve upon.

If you went in for an interview but didn’t get the job, it’s always a good idea to politely ask for feedback to help you for next time. Many interviewers are happy to provide this and you can always ask them to keep you in mind should a more suitable role come up. It can be very reassuring to know why you didn’t get the job – rather than letting your imagination run wild.  After an interview for a NQ position, I asked for feedback following a rejection and found out that they were torn between me and a solicitor with 2 years’ PQE.  That solicitor was prepared to work for a NQ salary despite their experience so I could understand why they selected him.  But it was nice to know that I was their second choice (rather than speculating about how many others I was competing with!).

Learn from every experience, but after that – let it go and move on to the next application.  As Michael from EK Business Law (@ekbusinesslaw) says, “the key is to keep moving, even if you have to change direction”.  Wise words from a wise man!

5. Accept reality

You really must accept that rejections are a part of the job search. Prepare yourself emotionally to handle the disappointment that comes with rejection. I suggest that you regularly give yourself helpful, positive messages, like ‘I am going to find a job that I love’, ‘I am making positive changes in my life’, and ‘I have the opportunity to create my future the way I want it to be’. Where our thoughts go, our actions tend to follow.

6. Accept responsibility – don’t blame others.

Without focusing too much on the negatives or blaming yourself, accept responsibility for your part in the rejection. Take ownership for your contribution.

7. Remember you are not alone

Everywhere you look there are peers, friends and mentors willing and ready to support you through the good days and bad.  Seek out those people – the support and shared knowledge will be so helpful on the bad days.  Contacts, job opportunities and friendships can result when you connect with others on a similar journey.  If you’re not sure where to find support, feel free to send me a message via my blog, my twitter feed (@RyanLegalEagles), my facebook page or via email to sarah@fromstudenttosolicitor.com and I will personally cheer you on and introduce you to others who can help you!

8. Work Your Network

Ask your friends or colleagues if they know of any job opportunities or networking events that you should attend.  It’s worth also asking if they could recommend a few other people you should contact who might have leads. 

9. Consult an Expert 

If you’ve had a lot of rejections and have no idea why it keeps happening, it may be time to be proactive and discover what factors may be keeping you in the rejection pile.  It wouldn’t hurt to run your CV by a career coach, mentor or colleague for their comments.  Spend some time practising your interview skills with someone who will give you honest feedback.

From my dealings with them on twitter, I would highly recommend Michael from EK Business Law (@ekbusinesslaw) and Jan Hyde from CL Journal (@JanHyde).  And, of course, you can always contact me and I would be happy to help.

10. Take Time Out! 

If you have been looking for a training contract for some time, it may help you to take some time out to refresh and re-energise.  Take yourself away somewhere for the weekend, visit some friends, go to the gym or even leaving the house for a short work can do wonders for clearing your mind.  When you return you will be renewed and ready to tackle the next application!

Whatever you do – don’t give up, because your dream job is right around the corner just waiting for you to apply for it!

In this blog post, you will find a list of the questions that I have had from twitter users in response to my #askasolicitor campaign.  I have given brief responses below but will cover my answers in more detail in separate blog posts as soon as I can.  If I have finished the detailed blog post for a question, I will post the link back here so that you know where to find it!  I will also include links to my solicitor interviews where other qualified solicitors have answered those questions.  If you have a question that you would like to be answered by a qualified solicitor, please comment below, send me a tweet to @RyanLegalEagles with the hashtag #askasolicitor or post on my facebook page.

“What’s the most valuable thing you have learnt which you can’t find in a textbook? That, or can I have a job please?” from @SamAArnold”

I would say that the most important lesson that I have learnt since university that I wasn’t taught there is that the legal knowledge is really only a third of what you need to succeed.  You also need sales & marketing skills and people skills.

Sales & marketing is vital because if you ever want to progress as a solicitor you will eventually need to start bringing in your own clients.  As a trainee and NQ, you may be able to skate by on the work brought in by the firm for you, but eventually your employers will look to you to start bringing in new clients yourself.  This was certainly a shock to the system for me as a new solicitor, as I had no sales experience and had never been taught it at school or university.

People skills are also crucial to gain new clients and retain existing ones.  If you do not form a good relationship with your clients and referrers, they will have no reason to trust you or return to you when they or someone they know needs your help.

Luckily, these skills can be learnt from books to an extent.  I have a list of books that cover these subjects on my “recommended reading” list but in particular, I would suggest the PSYCHOLOGY OF SELLING by Brian Tracy, The 25 Sales Habits of Highly Successful Salespeople by Stephen Covey, How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carneige and How to Speak, How to Listen by Mortimer Adler.  Practically speaking, these skills will need to be honed with real experience and this will come with time.  To get a head start, I suggest attending networking events, functions and perhaps take up a part-time job in retail/sales to work on your marketing skills.

As for the second part of your question, I’m afraid I have no recruitment power at the moment but if I did, I’d be happy to consider you!

“What is your one regret in your career?” by @Gabbyhay

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this question in an attempt to provide you with an answer less corny than “I don’t have any”.  But the reality is, I really don’t!  Yes, I have made mistakes in my time and yes, I have faced many challenges (like finding a training contract, looking for a job as a NQ solicitor in a recession and my job relocating over an hour away) but if none of those things had happened, I wouldn’t be the solicitor, or person, that I am today!

If I was really pushed for an answer, I guess that I wished I had learnt the importance of selling & marketing (see the above question) at an earlier stage because I would have learnt more about them when I was doing my LPC/training contract.  This would have made it a lot easier when I qualified and was suddenly expected to bring in new clients myself.

“Knowing all that you know now, would you still want to be a lawyer and why?” from @RemiToyobo

I suspect that my response to this question is not going to be the response that many of you want to read but I do believe in answering questions honestly.  If I were to make the decision again, I would probably not choose to be a solicitor because I don’t think I appreciated how long it takes to be rewarded for all of your hard work and I’m not sure I would have been willing to wait that long if I had known that at the time!  One thing you should be aware of is that you may not be paid the salary that you feel you deserve at trainee level, or even as a NQ solicitor.  I will go into this in more detail in a later blog post.

Having said that, now that I am a qualified solicitor with 2 years PQE, I am pleased and proud of my career choice.  Through the last ten years, I have learnt so much and gained such a wealth of experience that even if I did decide to change careers in the future, I would have such a wide range of options open to me.  I love being a family law solicitor and find it incredibly rewarding to help people through such a difficult time in their lives – in the end, that was worth all of those hours of studying and free work experience!

“How did you get a job/traineeship in this economy?” from @AhmedJnr

I managed to secure my training contract halfway through my Legal Practice Course.  I made between 60-80 applications and went for 2-3 interviews, so it was a difficult, frustrating process.  The firm that employed me as a trainee was one that I had written to after finding them via a google search and liked the look of their website.  I sent a copy of my CV with a covering letter, which I had personalised to make it stand out.  To do this, I put a photo of a local landmark in the letter’s header with my contact details.  This helped my application because (a) it was eye-catching to make it stand out and (b) it shows that I am a local applicant, which high street firms tend to like as you are more likely to want to stay in the area so won’t leave them upon qualification after they have invested so much time and money in training you.

I qualified just as the recession was starting in 2010 and this meant that I wasn’t retained by my training firm.  I had to find a job as a NQ solicitor, which can be as difficult as finding a training contract.  I took a similar approach as I did when I looked for my training contract: (a) preparing well before starting to apply (see here); (b) networking and asking all of my legal contacts for their help; (c) widening my search to neighbouring counties); (d) searching recruitment websites and (e) building an online social media presence on LinkedIn, twitter and WordPress so that I could demonstrate my soft skills (e.g. networking, marketing) to potential interviewers.  It definitely helped to be able to demonstrate to my interviewers that I had 750 followers on twitter and a loyal group of readers of my blog.

I will go into this topic in more detail in a later blog.

“What’s the main thing you look for from applications?” from @natalielorna1

I must point out, first of all, that I have not been involved in the recruitment of trainee solicitors, as I have only been qualified for 2 years myself.  But, I was consulted by our firm’s Managing Director in the recruitment of legal assistants and work experience students, so have some knowledge on the subject.  In my opinion, the most important qualities to highlight to potential employers include: -

• Academic record (as stated in this post, grades are not everything, but getting excellent grades does give you the edge over other applicants so do your best!);
• Both teamwork and an ability to work well alone: Being a trainee solicitor requires both skills so employers will want to see that you can do both.
• Interpersonal skills & communication
• Business knowledge
• Commitment to a legal career
• Attention to detail (i.e. make sure the application contains no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors!)
• Extra-curricular activities
• Work experience

I will go into details on how to demonstrate each of these in a later blog post, but hopefully this will give you an idea of the sort of things an employer would look for.  I am also currently looking to interview managing partners of firms that hire trainees so keep watching the blog for those posts!

“Are you still happy in the area of law you qualified into?  Would you change given the chance?” from @LegalGeekChic

When I was a trainee solicitor, I loved litigation and was hoping to qualify into this area upon qualification.  However, in the end, I wasn’t retained by the firm that trained me and I had to find a job as a NQ solicitor in a recession, which is almost as difficult as finding a training contract!  So, I had to compromise in order to qualify and ended up accepting a job as a family law solicitor.

In the end, I got very lucky – family law enabled me to practice litigation and yet still utilise my compassion and kindness to help people on a personal level with their relationships.  It turned out that I was more suited to an area of law where I could make a difference to real people, whereas litigation tended to involve working for big corporations in helping them to save money or avoid being sued!  Now that I have worked in the area for a while, I wouldn’t change my choice even if I were given the chance to!

The one downside of family law is that it can at times be a little depressing.  I got married two months after starting to practice family law and dealing with the darker side of relationships and bitter disputes over children and money can be a bit disenchanting.  However, I find that by focusing on the positive and being grateful for my wonderful husband it actually improves my marriage!

“What are the key motivations & qualities required in order to succeed and enjoy a career in law especially?” from @Lisa__Wang

• Passion, enthusiasm & persistence – A law career is a long, hard slog and it does take a while before your hard work is rewarded financially, so in order to be successful, you really need to love the law and be willing to work hard for little reward or recognition for a few years.  Know that it is worth it in the end!
• Time management – Being a lawyer is a stressful job and you will get a lot of different tasks thrown at you during the day.  It is crucial that you can juggle these tasks, learn to prioritise them and manage your day if you are to enjoy your job.
• Be friendly, sociable and approachable – This will help you to succeed in networking and build relationships with clients.
• Honesty and integrity – Clients expect lawyers to work to a high moral standard, total professional integrity and ethical code, because they will only instruct solicitors they trust.

These are the top qualities that I think are important to be a successful solicitor and enjoy your career.  On top of that, it is important that you can demonstrate the skills listed in my answer to @natalielorna1′s question above to employers.  I will go into these in more detail and talk about why they are important in a future blog post.

“What should I expect in the first few days of a training contract?” from @danny_naylor

This can vary depending on the type of firm, but I trained in a typical high street firm so can give you an idea of what my first few days were like.  The first morning of my training contract was spent with HR running through all of the firm’s policies and my employment & training contracts.  After lunch, I was taken round the firm and introduced to the rest of the staff.  In the afternoon, I was given IT training on the email & phone system, client management system and dictation software.  By 4pm on my first day, I had been given my first piece of research by the litigation partner.  On my second day, I was taken to an appointment with a client, was given some employment contracts to review, proof-read and suggest improvements on and received more training on time recording.  I was also shown the debt collection files, which the trainee solicitor at the firm was always responsible for.  After the first couple of days, I was given new work everyday.

I would say that I hit the ground running with my training and was very lucky to have a lot of responsibility from an early stage, which helped me to learn an incredible amount very quickly.  Some firms have a few days of training and start their trainees off with mainly research and drafting.

I will be interviewing other trainee solicitors and qualified solicitors in the near future and will post their answers to this question here once their interviews have been published.

“Do employers look at the GDL qualification any differently from  regular law degree?” from @4090ben

Yes, but not necessarily in a negative way!  I know some solicitors who see the GDL as a very good thing because it produces a trainee solicitor who has a much wider knowledge base and experience of other things.  For example, a trainee solicitor who did a degree in business would excel in commercial law, or if they did a psychology degree, they may excel in family law.  A marketing degree would help with promoting the firm and it’s services.  From my experience of high street firms, employers do not tend to mind which route the student took to being ready for a training contract, as long as they can demonstrate the right skills (see my answers to @natalielorna1 and @Lisa__Wang’s questions above), show enthusiasm for their business and their personality fits with the ethos of the firm.

I will cover the GDL in more detail in a later post.

“Will only a pass at LPC hinder getting a training contract?” from @4_samm

First of all, there is no such thing as “only a pass” when it comes to the Legal Practice Course.  It is a tough course with a high workload and tight deadlines.  Many students fail the Legal Practice Course and only a small minority get a commendation or distinction.  If you have passed the LPC, you should be incredibly proud and give yourself a huge pat on the back!

In terms of whether this will hinder your chances of getting a training contract, obviously the law students with a distinction or commendation will have a slight edge on you when recruiters are reviewing the applications.  This does not mean that you will not be able to get a training contract though!  I would focus on increasing the work experience and other interests on your CV to help you stand out and this will improve your chances.  For more advice, see my blog post on grades here.

You can find Sheena at Osborne Morris Morgan’s response to some of these questions here.

Don’t forget, if you have a question that you would like to #askasolicitor, either comment below, send me a tweet to @RyanLegalEagles with the hashtag #askasolicitor or write a post on my facebook page.  Als, feel free to contact me in the same ways if you are a qualified solicitor and would like to add your answer to any of these questions – we would love your input!

Question: I’m taking a year out before I start my LPC to gain legal work experience to better my chances for a training contract. Is this a smart move?

This is a question that I received from Paven Sharma (@SharmaPaven) a law student, via twitter this week.

Although it can be very tempting to want to get straight on with the LPC after your law degree so that you can qualify as soon as possible, there are some distinct advantages to taking a gap year first:

1. As Paven rightly points out in his question, taking a gap year can allow you to get a year’s worth of quality work experience for your CV, which will definitely help with your search for a training contract. I took a gap year between the LLB and the LPC and both my training contract employer and employer that hired me as an NQ commented that they were massively impressed with the amount of work experience I had gained whilst studying.

2. With the rising costs of the LPC and the removal of the minimum salary for trainee solicitors, taking a gap year before starting the LPC will enable you to save some money enabling you to ease the pressure of student debts. I was able to save half of my LPC tuition fees upfront by working for a year before the LPC which meant that I didn’t have to take out a professional loan like most of my classmates.

3. Working in a law firm for a year will help you to work out if being a solicitor is really for you before you actually have to invest heavily in the LPC. When I finished my law degree, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a solicitor. After a year of working with solicitors, my mind was made up and my passion was sparked!

4. Working in a law firm will help you to build up a database of legal contacts that you can contact in the future for advise and help in finding a training contract.

5. The experience that you gain will help you to understand the practical work in the LPC and will make the adjustment to life as a trainee solicitor easier when you start your training contract.

6. If you impress the firm during your gap year, they will be more likely to consider you for a training contract once your LPC is over.

Are you taking or did you take a gap year before starting the LPC? What were your reasons for that decision? (Please comment below)

I know that we are all still a little upset by last week’s news that the SRA are scrapping the regulations that set a minimum salary for trainee solicitors, but I don’t want any of you to lose heart.  Dwelling on the negative and feeling bleak about the future won’t do any good and certainly won’t help you reach qualification!

So, with that in mind, here are my top five reasons why you should feel positive about the future:

1.  Over 70% of law firms currently pay more than the minimum salary to trainee solicitors, so there is a very strong chance that you will be paid more than the bare minimum when you do get a training contract.

2.  The new measures may actually inject passion back into the profession, as many students who were only in it for the money will be put off trying to qualify and we will be left with those students who have real passion and commitment to be a solicitor.  And those who are passionate about their job end up being paid more eventually anyway, since they tend to self-study after qualification and improve their value to the firm.

3.  It is likely that the deregulation of the minimum salary will result in more training contracts being available, which will mean more opportunities to qualify.  There may be a risk that there won’t be as many jobs available upon qualification, but is it not better to be qualified and looking for work than unqualified and looking for a training contract?  Besides, speaking from experience, it is a lot easier to find a job as a Newly Qualified solicitor than a training contract (and I had to do it at the start of the recession!).  In addition, if you can prove yourself as invaluable to the firm during your training contract, it is highly likely that you will be taken on at the end of it.

4.  There are so many cheerleaders today!  When I was looking for a training contract, there wasn’t a lot of support out there for law students.  Today, you have a huge network of personal cheerleaders ready to motivate you, pick you up and dust you off after a bad interview and celebrate with you when you get a training contract!

You only have to look on twitter for a few minutes to see how much support there is out there for law students today.  Beyond this site, there is also the Duncan Gibbins Academy (@DG_Academy), Michael at EK Business Law (@ekbusinesslaw), LawCareers.net (@LawCareersNetUK) and the Trainee Solicitors Surgery (@TraineeSurgery) and many more!  The forum at traineesolicitor.co.uk is also very useful, with lots of qualified solicitors ready to help answer any questions you might have.  Really, with so much support behind you, what choice is there but to succeed?

5.  You are unique.  There is no other law student out there like you – with your exact interests, background and personality.  You have the desire and passion to make it in the legal industry and this will stand out so clearly to potential employers at job interviews.  You can and will reach qualification.  Once you do you will open a whole world of opportunities and the sky will be the limit for your potential salary then.  So my advice is to put the SRA’s decision behind you, plant a smile on your face and get out there ready to face the day!  Your training contract is waiting for you to apply for it!

So, in the spirit of being positive – what are you most thankful for/happy about today?  My happy moment today was watching my husband and baby son both sleeping at 5am while I was writing this blog post – I felt like the luckiest woman alive!  Please post your happy thoughts and positive comments below so that we can spread the good feeling!

So, you had that all important training contract interview and you feel that it has gone really well. You seem to get on really well with the interviewers, had confident, coherent responses for their questions and showed a keen interest in the job and the firm.

What’s next? Well, you could sit back and wait anxiously to hear the outcome. Or, you could write a short thank you note to the interviewer for their time and considering you as a candidate. I would suggest the following:

1. Send an e-mail or handwritten note. E-mail is quicker but handwritten is more personal so the approach you take may depend on the firm. For example, a modern, technologically-advanced firm may appreciate an email more where as a traditional, high street firm may prefer a handwritten note.

2. Address it to your interviewer by name (I mean “Mr Jones” not “Peter” unless they specifically asked you to call them by their first name).

3. Thank them for their time and considering your application.

4. Reiterate your interest in the firm and the job. For example, “I was really interested in hearing about [firm's name] and your work in the medical negligence sector”.

5. Link your skills back to the job. For example,”After hearing more about the role, I really feel that my extensive experience in advocacy and negotiation would assist me to excel in this position”.

6. Keep it short – you want to remind the interviewer about you, not bore them!

This note has several benefits. It reminds them of you while they are considering who to hire, it shows them that you are a polite, confident candidate and it keeps the lines of communication open. It might just give you the edge over another candidate if the interviewer is torn.

As the writer Richard Whateley once said: “Manners are one of the greatest engines of influence ever given to man”.

Background

The current prescribed minimum salary set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority is set at £16,650 outside of London and £18,590 in central London.  The SRA are currently considering whether to remove the prescribed minimum salary altogether.  These proposals have been widely criticised by the Junior Lawyers Division and the Law Society who have branded the salary review as “unfortunate” and “premature”.  The results of the SRA’s consultation will be fed back to the SRA Board later this month.

The Disadvantages

The deregulation of the prescribed minimum salary could result in traineeships become classed as apprenticeships under the National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999, which would mean that employers would only be liable to pay the national minimum wage from 1999 to their trainees in the first year (£2.60 per hour) and the standard minimum wage for every subsequent year (currently set at £6.08 per hour).

It is possible that this could damage social mobility and diversity in the profession with fears that high qualification costs (especially with the rising costs of university tuition fees) and low pay could deter all but the very rich from becoming solicitors at all.  This does seem to be a step backwards to the elitist profession of earlier years.

The Law Society has also questionned whether firms wanting to pay their trainees £2.60 per hour should even be offering training contracts at all, as it casts doubts over whether the firm would be able to offer adequate training and resources to the trainee.

The Advantages

The SRA feels that there may no longer be  a need for them to regulate a trainee’s salary and that they should not be attempting to control the legal employment market in any way.  After all, no other regulatory body sets prescribed minimum salaries for their trainees.

At the present time, there are 9088 trainee solicitors registered in England and Wales.  Of these, 30% are paid at the minimum level.  It is fair to assume therefore that only 30% of the trainees in the country would be affected by the removal of the prescribed minimum salary.  These trainees would still be protected by the National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999, which, as discussed above, would class trainees as apprentices.

The potential for some employers to reduce salary levels must be weighed against the fact that the existence of a prescribed minimum salary that is higher that the national minimum wage might be actually stopping some firms from offering training contracts at all.  The removal of the minimum salary may result in some firms starting to offer training contracts for the first time, or existing training firms starting to offer more places.  This would give more law students the opportunity to qualify.

Admittedly, there is a possibility that trainees from less wealthy backgrounds may be deterred from pursuing a career in law.  However, it is equally possible that access to a legal career may be improved as more law firms are able to offer training contracts.  Given that there continues to be a high demand for training contracts, any measures which seek to increase the availability of them has to be worth consideration.

My Thoughts

The new proposals set out by the SRA to remove the prescribed minimum salary for trainee solicitors could result in some trainees being exploited by firms and being paid the bare minimum of £2.60 per hour for their first year.  This is a shockingly low figure, especially when you consider the huge tuition fees payable by the trainee to their university for 4-5 years of study and the fact that they would not be paid at all during their studies unless they undertake extra employment in addition to their ardous academic workload.

I also find it slightly insulting that trainee solicitors would be treated as apprentices for the first year of their training contract and, as such, would be paid the wage of an apprentice (£2.60 per hour) during this time.  This does not take into account the 4-5 years of hard study undertaken by the trainee, or the countless hours spent doing free work experience for law firms to bolster their CV to even get their foot in the door for a training contract!

Nevertheless, I do believe that the removal of a prescribed minimum salary may result in more training contracts being available to an already saturated marketplace, which I think can only be a good thing.

It may be difficult for trainees to work for such low salaries throughout their training contract, but I think that it would be worth it if a career in law is really your ultimate goal.  For anyone who is passionate about being a solicitor, surviving 1-2 more years on a low salary may be a small sacrifice to make to reach qualification.  And if the law firm does not offer a reasonable salary upon qualification which is in line with the market salaries, then the trainee has at least reached qualification and can then decide to move on to another firm offering a more rewarding wage.

The thing to bear in mind with a minimum salary is that it is only the first rung in the ladder.  If your intention is to stay on the minimum salary for the rest of your life, then maybe it should be higher than £2.60 per hour, but in reality you will be looking to move up the ladder and earn more as your value increases.  As I have said in my previous post, employers will pay you according to the value that you bring to the firm, so the way to increase your salary is to increase your value by learning, learning and learning!

Yes, it is incrediably unfair that some trainee solicitors will be paid as little as £2.60 per hour following 4-5 years of hard studying, but there is little that we can do to affect the SRA’s decision.  I would chalk this down to one of the many challenges that face solicitors throughout their careers and see it as an opportunity to thrive in spite of it.  If you can reach qualification with all of the obstacles facing trainees and law students these days, then you know that you will be well equipped to face anything that may challenge you throughout your career.  And if you are determined and focused on that goal, you will get there!

What do you think of the changes to the minimum salary proposed by the SRA?

One of the most important things that you can do to reach qualification and reach your career goals is to read as much relevant material as you possibly can. This increases your value to potential employers and ensures that you are well equipped for the challenges ahead. With that in mind, I will occasionally be including reviews of books that I think may be useful for your career in my blog. I hope you find them useful!

For me, the choice of which book to review first was an easy one. “The Guide” by Dr William Holden was the book that influenced me to grow my career, stretched myself to reach my goals and overcome many obstacles. It is a guide to personal development that is unlike so many of those that are also on the market. Unlike it’s competitors, The Guide does not just tell you what to do to achieve anything you want in life, but why the method works and how to actually put it into practice.

The book follows two friends, Paul and Maya, one of whom is guiding the other through the methods they used to completely revitalise their life. It has a semi-fictional layout which makes it simple to follow and absorb the methods along with the fictional trainee!

One of my favourite things about this book is that it is really easy to read, it breaks down the ideas into plain English and is virtually impossible to put down once you have started reading it. I first read the book in about three days flat! I have since read it another 6 times, as it is one of those books that you will want to re-read as you work through the goal setting exercises and reach certain steps. Every step is highlighted with examples which help to reiterate the message being delivered.

There is nothing particularly complicated about the methods laid out in the book which is surprising at first because you would expect something so life changing to be a little more challenging. This is, however, another fantastic element because it is so easy to implement immediately and is easily achievable by anyone who reads the book.

Personally, I read this book during my training contract and it guided me through the various obstacles on my own route to qualification and assisted me in achieving my various career goals along the way. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone – it really will change your life!

I would love to know what you thought of The Guide so please let me know in the comments section below!

Let me tell you a story about a law graduate who found an unusual way of securing his training contract with a firm that I worked for.  He was studying his Legal Practice Course at the time, but was aware that the end of his studies was approaching and he still didn’t yet have a training contract.

Instead of writing letters to every firm in the area, he got dressed in his smartest suit, printed off a reem of copies of his CV, packed them in his briefcase and hit the streets.  He turned up at the reception of every law firm in our town in search of any opportunities.  He spoke politely to every receptionist that he encountered and explained that he was looking for a chance to speak with the Managing Partner about any opportunities there may be within the firm.  He assured them that he would be happy to work as a paralegal and work up to a training contract, or even start as an office junior if it meant getting his foot in the door.

When he walked into the office of the firm where I was working at the time, the Managing Partner just happened to be in reception and overheard his conversation with our receptionist.  She was so impressed that she called him into her office there and then to discuss his CV.  She hired him as a paralegal on the spot and within 3 months he was offered a training contract.

This approach may seem very scary to some, as you will have to have a thick skin and be prepared for lots of rejection.  But you can see why it worked.  For the Managing Partner, she was able to look at the long term prospects of hiring someone like him.  Firstly, he was clearly passionate about reaching his goals, since he was willing to walk door to door until someone helped him.  Secondly, he was polite to her receptionist – which is always a good sign (I will be doing a post about this issue at a later date!).  Finally, he was someone prepared to think outside the box when things got tough.  This means that, in the future, if he was struggling with a low workload or the firm didn’t have many new clients, she knew that she could rely on him to think outside the box in order to bring new contacts into the firm.  Particularly as he was clearly a confident individual, so was also likely to be successful at networking.

I’m not saying that you should immediately go out and try this approach, but it is worth thinking about if you are having trouble finding a training contract.  It helps people to see that you are friendly, confident and serious about qualifying – all of which are crucial personality traits in any trainee solicitor.

Have you heard of any unusual ways that trainee solicitors have found their training contracts?  If so, please let us know in the comment section below!

As I have said in previous posts, it is highly likely that your next job opportunity will arise either from your friends or from business contacts, so networking (i.e. building personal relationships) is so important for your job hunt.  For a lot of junior solicitors (and older ones for that matter), networking can be daunting and a bit scary.  I can assure you that it is something that gets easier with practice and, if you follow the tips below, can be so effective in helping you to find your next job or your training contract.

So, to get the most out of your networking meetings, I would suggest the following: -

1.  Tailor which events you go to.  It may not be prudent to focus on traditional “networking” events, like BNI, for your job hunt.  Whilst there is likely to be at least one solicitor there, they will be focused on increasing their client base and are unlikely to want to talk to other solicitors, about job hunting or anything else!  Instead, I would aim for events where most of the attendees will be solicitors, such as lectures run by your local law school or accountancy firm, or social events run by your local Junior Lawyers Division group.  At these sort of events, the attending solicitors will be more relaxed and more focused on socialising, so, in turn, will be more open to discussing job opportunities and how they will be able to help you.

2.  Dress to impress.  No matter what type of event you go to, ALWAYS dress smart and focus on your appearance.  Make an effort to wear a suit or business dress.  Men – polish your shoes and have a shave.  Women – keep jewellery simple and don’t overdo the make-up! When you first arrive, visit the bathroom to make sure that you still look smart after travelling.

3.  Get there early.  If there is a schedule to stick to, you may find that you don’t have enough time to talk to everyone that you would have liked to.  Being punctual also makes a good impression and leaves you free to chat with the other early arrivals.  This is particularly helpful if you are nervous, as it will settle your nerves to break the ice in a more casual manner.  I have often found that my most effective networking and best business relationships have developed from contacts that I have spoken to before the networking officially started.

4.  Listen 80% and talk 20%.  Networking should always be interactive, but in general, others would rather talk than listen.  Therefore, initially at least, give them your full attention.  Listening builds trust and says “I care about you”.  Take care to listen carefully to everything they say and ask questions that demonstrate that you have heard them.

5.  If you get point 4 right, most people will, at some point, inevitably ask you about yourself and what you do.  When that happens, take twenty seconds (not twenty minutes) to reply.  Be focused and tell them exactly what you do and what help you are looking for.  For example: “I am currently finishing my Legal Practice Course and am hoping to specialise in employment law when I qualify.  I’m here today to expand my network and meet other solicitors in the area.  Ideally, I am looking for contacts who can help me to find opportunities to obtain a training contract and offer me advice”.

6.  In general, when asking for help, it is better to be indirect than direct.  For example, most people will clam up if you ask them “can you give me the names of some of your friends?” but will be more open to respond to “who else do you think I should be talking to?”/”do you have any advice for me?”/”are there any local groups that you think I should get in touch with?”/”what would you do if you were me?”.  These questions are far less threatening and will often elicit a response that gives you a name or contact details for someone who can help.  It is important at this stage to ask for information only -  don’t ask them directly for a job!  This will come across as pushy and will make them less likely to want to help.  When someone does help, offer them something in return if you can – e.g. the name of another contact that may help them, or advice on a project they have discussed with you.

7.  Be optimistic and upbeat.  If you are having fun, they will have fun.  And if they’re having fun talking to you, they will be more likely to want to help you.

7.  The follow-up.  Ask for a business card from every person that you interact with so that you have their contact details.  After the event, ALWAYS contact everyone that you made a connection with, either by email or phone.  Thank them for their time, tell them what you are going to do/have done with their advice and let them know that you enjoyed interacting with them.  If you have followed my previous advice in my LinkedIn post, you should have an active profile there by now.  If so, add the new contacts that you have made on there.  The most important thing is that you keep interacting with them regularly, so that if they ever do hear of any job opportunities in their firm or in a contact’s firm, they will think of you!

Have any of you ever been offered a job as a result of someone that you know?  Or have you had a particularly positive networking experience that you would like to share.  If so, please comment below.