My top tips for Trainees who have just changed seats or are starting their training (from a fourth-seat Trainee): ✅ Become a master at note taking - capture everything from client calls to task instructions. Your future self (and colleagues) will thank you. ✅Ask the ‘Silly Questions’ – it’s much better to clarify something at the start than unleash legal mayhem later. ✅Feedback is your friend - (even when it doesn't feel like it). ✅Be proactive - look for extra tasks related to the projects you’re working on. Especially if you have more capacity when you first start in your team. ✅Precedents folders - Save an approved piece of work as a template for future reference to save you time. ✅Create a praise folder in Outlook – it'll come in handy in your 1-2-1's and trainee appraisals, and for when you need to revisit it for a confidence boost. ✅Pace yourself - it's normal to feel overwhelmed initially when you're doing something completely new. “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” 🐘 ✅Volunteer for EVERY coffee run! ☕ 😂
Love this Megan. Especially the coffee run!!! When I was a trainee, the coffee run also included a morning bagel too!!! 😂
Precedents folder is a particularly useful one - saves you reinventing the wheel every time. Glad you are doing well Meg - not too long now until qualification! 👍
Great advice Megan. Lloyd Tennant looking forward to the coffee and bagels run tomorrow 😂.
Great tips Megan!
Great advice Megan Parker
Senior Associate Solicitor - Wills & Estate Planning, Napthens LLP
6moI love the praise folder idea and still do this. When I was training 120 years ago, my training partner suggested keeping a nice letters folder which took the form of an A4 binder to keep the letters and cards of thanks. His view was to create a visual and tangible reminder of the exceptional work we do. We are human and when you make a mistake or drop the ball as all humans do, the folder is there to help you put that one error into perspective in the grand scheme of things. Thanks Mike Quinn , I still remember that conversation.