In September 2019 I started my training contract with Howes Percival LLP, by March 2020 the world was in a tailspin and we were in lockdown. When I started my training contract I never thought I would have to adapt to working almost entirely from home. So let’s talk frankly about what that means as a trainee, trying to forge your way in the crazy legal world, and some tips based on my experience on how to work well from home (because even if you aren’t a trainee, it is important to learn how to do this).
What has life as a lockdown trainee taught us? For me, I have learnt to rely on my own skills and research. Before lockdown I would be cautious of putting my opinion in the ring, because why would I know better than someone who has done the job for years? Now, I have to research the answers to my questions rather than just simply asking my colleague next to me. We are still encouraged to ask as many questions as we need and are really well supervised, this new independence has allowed me to form my own opinions and think on my feet and add more discipline to my own day. I think this is reflected in my work, I am a lot more confident and dare I say it… competent. I am happier to interject into a discussion, talk to clients on my own and offer my views.
Moving forward lockdown has also shown the world a new way of working. Working from home was always slightly taboo. Now if you have an internet connection and a laptop you can work from anywhere. I hear a lot of people moaning that it’s not the same, or that supervisors can’t keep tabs on you. I would wholeheartedly disagree and Howes Percival have maintained an environment where the team ethos and direct supervision are second to none. The upcoming generation of lawyers started using computers from an early age, we are used to studying online (think of all those hours of exams we have endured since we were 15!) so we have evolved to the virtual world. At Howes Percival teams have meetings weekly (if not daily in my team) to catch up with each other, share workloads and generally keep tabs. If the world is heading in the direction of more home working, I believe we are the generation to be able to do it. This new environment has also resulted in a change to our work-life balance, with the full utilisation of lunchbreaks or previous commuting times to do chores or exercise leaving more time in the evenings to relax. This means that when I do sit down to work, I am fully focussed on working.
During your training contract there are a number of different elements other than the quality of your work (although, yes this is the most important factor). You need to be a positive, ready to jump in whenever someone gives you work, be pragmatic, flexible and approachable and generally ‘present’. All of these things are made a lot more difficult when you aren’t in the office with your colleagues, but there are ways to show these qualities even through a screen. There have been some moments when it hasn’t been that easy though. For one, the lack of human interaction has been difficult. Keeping motivated while staring at the same four walls can also be draining. Below are some tips myself and other trainees would suggest for how to work well from home, even if you aren’t a trainee, they could help you in learning how to survive in a fast becoming virtual world.
Most importantly, have confidence in your ability to be a great trainee while not physically in an office. The world is changing and those law firms and lawyers that adapt quickest and best will come out on top, so its best to make sure you are one of them! You can get more hints and tips by looking at the Junior Lawyer Blog section on our website and following Howes Percival’s Trainees on LinkedIn and Twitter.
To contact us, please fill out this form and we will get back in touch as soon as possible. Your personal data will be processed in accordance with our privacy policy which can be found here.
Thank you for your enquiry. We will respond as soon as possible.
