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It’s been a whirlwind three months adjusting to a new city and working environment. With so much change comes a lot of life lessons. I am now three months into my first seat in Michelmores’ Transactional Real Estate team, and I am hopeful that my findings may offer some insight into what your early months training with the Firm might look like.
Lesson 1: Practice is different from theory
My biggest lesson is that studying the theory of law is vastly different from putting it into practice. When I started my first seat in Transactional Real Estate, I was rather apprehensive because my experiences with land and property law as taught on the PGDL and SQE had dampened my enthusiasm for the subject.
I found that property law taught abstract rules and principles on ownership and rights in a way that blended legal issues into a confusing mass of case law and jurisdiction. For me, it was hard to wade through. Cut to December 2024 and I’m thoroughly enjoying the practice of transactional real estate!
Applying my property law knowledge within the real-world property industry turned these complexities into tangible and more digestible concepts.
Every transaction is unique, and there are countless variables – such as market conditions and client needs – that can influence the outcome of a deal. In practice, property law often intersects with issues such as financing, negotiations, and environmental considerations, requiring not just legal knowledge but also business acumen, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Emotional and financial stakes for clients can add a layer of pressure that theory doesn’t factor in, forcing you to adapt quickly and think creatively to resolve unforeseen complications. These past three months have taught me that property law, applied in dynamic, everyday scenarios, is vastly different from when I studied it.
So, my advice to any aspiring lawyer deep in the theoretical trenches is that any difficulties or struggles with legal content in the classroom will not necessarily follow you into real-world law – don’t let it limit your seat options!
Lesson 2: Asking goes a long way
Starting your Training Contract will always feel daunting. Even three months in, there is still so much I don’t know and am unfamiliar with.
Asking questions goes such a long way because it shows that you are engaged, eager to learn, and committed to doing things right. It is completely okay to not know everything, especially when you are starting out. Your colleagues and supervisors expect you to ask for clarification when you are unsure. By seeking guidance, you can avoid mistakes and it demonstrates a willingness to improve, which is highly valued in any legal environment.
Messing up during your training contract is a natural part of the learning process. What is important is how you handle those mistakes. If you don’t understand something or make an error, it is crucial to ask questions and seek feedback. By doing so, you show initiative and a genuine desire to learn.
Remember, no one expects you to be perfect, but showing that you are proactive in seeking guidance and improving your work will build goodwill and bolster your confidence as you progress in your training contract.
Lesson 3: The Golden Rule
‘Attention to detail’ are buzzwords used frequently in Training Contract applications. I preached proudly in many an application that I had great attention to detail but was quickly humbled on the job. When you are working in a new environment and under time-pressured conditions, rushing is a likely evil and with that comes easy mistakes.
Whilst mistakes are a fundamental part of the learning process, always stick to the Golden Rule: check, check and double check.
Checking your work is essential because it ensures accuracy, professionalism, and the quality of your output. In a legal setting, even small mistakes can have significant consequences. By paying close attention to the finer points of your tasks, you demonstrate your commitment to delivering work that is both precise and reliable. It also builds trust with your team, as they can rely on you to consistently produce high-quality work. The more pride you put in your work, the better the output.
All-in-all, I have learnt a lot in the space of three months, and I hope by sharing my top lessons, they make anybody starting their Training Contract feel more prepared.
Know you’re worth – you’ve got this.
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