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Prior to starting my training contract at Michelmores in September this year, I worked in the New Homes team as a Paralegal for three years. Despite the experience, starting my training contract was a daunting prospect for me.
My Paralegal experience was invaluable for a variety of reasons. It facilitated the development of key professional skills, for example, written and oral communication, and gave me the ability to develop meaningful client relationships. It also allowed me to build a foundation for my legal knowledge in the real estate sector. However, whilst I had these skills, my first few months as a trainee has certainly been a new challenge.
Change of expectations and preparing to know nothing!
My first seat has been in Asset Protection, which is a split seat between the Tax, Trusts and Succession (TTS) team and the Family team.
Naturally, when I was a Paralegal, over time I had a good understanding of what my role entailed and was able to complete various tasks of my own volition, enabling me to be largely autonomous. However, the transition to trainee has meant that I have returned to square one!
It has been quite a change as I started the seat without knowing much about the work involved in the TTS and Family teams. This was challenging, but I managed to combat these negative feelings by speaking to current trainees and my supervisor about how I was feeling and they reassured me that this is totally normal (and somewhat heightened considering my circumstances!). The main thing I’ve learnt through this initial struggle is understanding that as a trainee, your main objective is to learn. Your team understand that you are starting from scratch; and it is much more important to put yourself out there, engage as much as possible, and show enthusiasm to learn. It is impossible to know it all from the beginning.
Adjustment is the key word
As a Paralegal, I became familiar with my colleagues and team and learnt how to work together effectively. When I became a trainee, I joined a new team with new colleagues, a new team dynamic, and different styles of working to what I was used to. I have found that it has been quite an adjustment, particularly in a split seat where you are adjusting to two separate teams, as I have had to try and learn how each member of both teams work.
It’s important to remember that this is all part of the process. I will move seat every six months and so there will be multiple occasions going forward where I am in a similar position. However, despite this, I will be able to employ my experiences from my first seat and use this to my advantage in future seats.
Key takeaways
Upon reflection, my Paralegal experience did assist me during the transition period by providing me with many valuable transferable skills that I was able to utilise. However, this transition period has taught me that I still have a lot to still learn, although this is all part of the process. Whilst this can be daunting at times, I do enjoy the process. For me, it is vital to put the experience into perspective and remind myself of the hard work that got me to this position.
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