23 June 2009IT has been many a moon since my last online instalment, so apologies for those of you who have been starved of news from the sharp end of the legal world.
As I've said many a time before, work for a trainee in a c
orporate department can be very cyclical. When you are not needed to work on deals, most of a trainee's day is spend researching or on company admin. However, when you are involved in a deal, life can get pretty hectic and despite the economic downturn, I recently experienced my busiest fortnight as a trainee. Not only was I working significantly longer hours than ever before Monday to Friday, but my attendance was also required over the weekend. It takes me back to my days in Sainsbury's! I'm not going to come across all macho and say it was a breeze - in truth I found it pretty tough going and I was completely knackered after 12 days of 13 hour "shifts". I have the upmost respect for professionals who can still negotiate on the finer points of an EMI option at 11 pm, having been in the office since 7.30 am.
Alas, my time in corporate is coming to an end as I change departments for one last time. I am moving with mixed emotions as I have thoroughly enjoyed my year in the corporate department and I sense I have found an area of practice in which I would like to work post qualifying. At the same time I am eager to try something new for the last few months of my traineeship – and so I depart for one of our branches in the Aberdeenshire countryside. Imagine picture postcard villages and awesome fish and chip shops. I expect the work will be somewhat varied as the branch offices are the initial point of contact for many clients requiring all sorts of legal advice. I'm looking on this as "Trainee Finishing School" where I can smooth down the rough edges of my ability to deal with clients, by getting a bit more face to face time with them.
As this is not happening until June, I will be completing the final part of my PCC - an employment law course at Edinburgh. Bearing in mind I know absolutely nothing about employment law, I was slightly concerned to read that I will be getting videoed as part of the course. Cue frantic internet research for the next few days.
And finally, on the social news front, eight of RCCW's most baby faced solicitors (and trainees) recently took a shot at glory in the Ritson Smith Young Professional Quiz along with more than 30 other teams entered from various professions around Aberdeen. With some of the RCCW group still reeling from a humiliating display at a similar TSB event a few months earlier, the partners in attendance warned that failure was not an option. That threat had the desired effect, and both teams acquitted themselves exceedingly well. Having occupied places in the top-ten for most of the night, the superior intellect of the RCCW youngsters shone through, as both teams climbed the table at a mysteriously comparable rate to mount a late title charge. The final round saw both teams embarrassing knowledge of 80's and 90's one hit wonders propel RCCW 1 into 2nd place and RCCW 2 into joint 1st with another legal firm comprising 70's and 80's teeny boppers.
Sadly, our youthful heroes were unsuccessful in the tie break against their much older rivals (I confess, it was me - I got the tie break question wrong and have yet to live this down). Rumours that one of the winning team tried to use his pension card to pay at the bar, are yet to be substantiated….
Read some of John's previous blogs below...•
March 2009•
December 2008•
September 2008•
August 2008•
April 2008•
February 2008•
December 2007•
November 2007•
October 2007
