The life and times of a lawyer-to-be

Published on Monday 10 December 2007 14:21

'JOHN Geddes, a graduate of the University of Aberdeen, is a trainee at Raeburn Christie Clark and Wallace. This is his blog about life as a trainee solicitor in Scotland...'

Monday, 10 December, 14.10

After three months of working hard (or hardly working) it’s the festive season and last Friday was the Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace Christmas party. ‘Twas a good event and it appears that everyone enjoyed themselves; not least the IT assistant and I who tried our very hardest to get our money’s worth from the free bar.

Traditionally the first year trainees have to make a speech at the party but this year my peers’ blushes were spared as the second years had to stand up and be counted as they had missed last year’s do.

Despite some very nervous faces they put on an excellent performance in the form of a mock news broadcast. I’m actually pretty gutted - it was so good that us first years are going to struggle to top it next year. I’ve been warned if it’s bad I’ll get a P45 and not a Christmas card….

The party was sorely needed as the day that preceded it was probably my most hectic to date - one of the other trainees even said I was looking “very serious” and asked if I was okay - I told her that this was just my “game face” and that I was getting down to some serious conveyancing.

On top of my own workload, I was also asked to do innumerable settlements for other solicitors. Normally I enjoy a wee trip out of the office of a Friday, but I just couldn’t fit everything in and actually had to say I was too busy to assist thereby breaking the golden rules of being a trainee, namely “I’m always happy to help” and “nothing is too much bother”. An early experience in prioritising I feel.

The last two weeks have been pretty eventful. There had been a lull in the workload a few weeks back, but I’ve been kept out of mischief with a couple of files which have ended up being rather more complex than they really should have. I got a lesson in managing client expectation levels, coupled with taking proper instructions – or, more specifically, knowing exactly what your client is expecting from you.

I’ve also been experiencing the joy of clients who just cannot understand what you are telling them despite your very best efforts at avoiding legal jargon and speaking in layman’s terms –seems I’ve still got things to learn on the communications front then.

I’ll leave you with news that I received a Christmas card from some clients thanking me personally for the work I did for them. My partner has warned me the happy ones seem to be the exception in this job and I’ve not to take it personally when they moan instead of praise. She might say she’s trying to keep my feet on the ground. I know she’s really just jealous…..

Click here to read John's previous blog