Aspiring Solicitors’ Post

The best person to give you law application advice is... (spoiler: it's not me) The grad rec/early careers/early talent team at your target firms. Only they know *exactly* what they're looking for in an applicant. And that's why we've got Sayed from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer joining us to answer ANY question you have. We'll be sharing the answers for FREE in the LittleLaw newsletter - sign up if you don't want to miss it. Want to ask something? Comment below or DM me. (best question gets a set of LittleLaw stickers)

It’s going to be a busy week! Law firm summer programs start across the country. I will be delivering five trainings this week to these newly arrived summers at White & Case LLP, Dechert LLP, Fox Rothschild, Mayer Brown and Linklaters What am I most excited to share with them? Having studied lawyers careers for over 30 years, I have found that creating a successful AND fulfilling career requires: 🗝️Supportive Work Habits 🗝️ Mindset Management Practices For example, establishing time management habits early in an associates career will help them to feel more in control and able to focus on getting important, not just urgent work done each day. I also teach them to focus by getting in the habit of doing the “worst” things first. In addition, I provide them with practical tools like a Daily Focus Plan that helps them to be proactive. When I speak to them about Mindset Management Practices, I share that we all have a negativity bias. This is the part our brain that is looking for problems. Law students are trained and rewarded for issue spotting. This tool works well for lawyering, but if we are always looking for a problem, it could effect our well-being and impact our relationships. So we need to be aware and develop practices like gratitude and keeping track of our achievements. I am so excited to share habits and practices with these summer associates so they can thrive at work, and be present to take in all the good things that occurs each day. #habitsforsuccess #lawyerwellbeing #summerassociates #2024summerprograms

Going back to Cornell today to speak on a panel about “alternate careers.” One of the proposed questions to me is what made me want to do something different that the traditional biglaw corporate path. The obvious implication of that question is that doing something other than Biglaw is out of the norm. We need to quit telling law students that Biglaw is normal and if you don’t do it you’re out of the norm. Most lawyers will never work in Biglaw. Most lawyers, even if they stay in Biglaw, will only work for a few years at a large firm. We shouldn’t continue to sell young lawyers on a career that most lawyers don’t even have.

I remember creating a spreadsheet and cold called hundreds of law firms across the state looking for jobs. The public watches law firm tv shows and thinks there are tons of “big law” firms. Just not the case. Most of the firms I called were solos, or had just two or three attorneys and selling them on why they needed to ADD someone like me looking for a job was a tough sell. (Had only one that gave me the time of day, then even an interview) Schools would do their students better service to be more realistic about what the career opportunities are but as one of the commenters infers below, that might have an impact on admissions. Lesson: work your network from day one, and don’t bank on getting the “big law” job. #lawjobs #careeradvice

🌟 Welcome to AS’ learning series, in collaboration with Freshfields. This is the first video in a six part series, where we interview George Whittingham, an associate at Freshfields and AS Alumnus. In this video, he shares his journey as an Economics student to securing a training contract at Freshfields. A must-watch for anyone from a law and non-law background considering a career in law 💼 #aspiringsolicitors #freshfields #legalcareer #commerciallaw #trainingcontract #vacationscheme

All sectors have their taboos. But none are so widespread as the legal and financial sectors… Films such as The Devil’s Advocate (1997) and Wolf of Wall Street (2014) exaggerate popular myths towards big financial corporations and legal firms. The reality is far different. After a training day with Wiser Academy, I learned how to disentangle fact from myth. This year, they are partnering with Clifford Chance, haysmacintyre, Fidelity International, and KPMG. All these companies illustrated that they can benefit future graduates and society. While, like all companies, employees must work hard and gain their qualifications, these companies offer exciting opportunities to help the public and private sectors. I was surprised to find how many employment opportunities are available for those who don’t know or have limited experience with these sectors – and I should know, I specialise in history, not business, economics or law! I look forward to breaking the stereotypes and encouraging students to see for themselves! #WiserAcademy #KPMGWiserAcademy #FidelityInternationalWiserAcademy #haysmacintyreWiserAcademy #CliffordChanceWiserAcademy

Meeting the expectations of others is crucial for early career attorneys in a client-centered business model and an apprenticeship-driven professional development environment. Understanding these expectations and having clear career goals are fundamental steps to achieving success. Our article, "How Associates Can Build A Professional Image," co-authored with Estelle Winsett, JD, has just been published in Law360. In it, we delve into strategies for building a professional image in today’s legal environment. We explore the critical elements of professional presence and how associates can navigate their careers with confidence and distinction. Estelle and I will expand on these insights at the Professional Development Consortium (PDC) Summer Conference on July 11 in San Diego. Our presentation, "Showing Up and Standing Out: Innovative Strategies for Empowering Law Firm Associates," will discuss how law firm professionals can empower associates by guiding them through understanding and meeting expectations, and equipping them with the necessary information and skills. Join us to explore how we can empower the next generation of lawyers to not just show up, but to stand out and thrive in their careers. Read the article on Law360 here: https://lnkd.in/gywJNpe2] #LegalProfession #ProfessionalDevelopment #Law360 #PDC2024 #CareerGrowth #LawFirmAssociates

🌟 Excited to Share My Experience at the 'Insight into Clifford Chance Event! 🌟 I recently had the privilege of attending the Insight into Clifford Chance online event organised by Young Professionals and it was an enlightening experience! ⚖️✨ The event provided a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the legal profession and what it takes to thrive in a leading international law firm. Throughout the session, industry professionals shared their personal journeys and insights into the various roles within Clifford Chance. Their stories highlighted not only the challenges but also the immense rewards of pursuing a career in law. One of the key takeaways for me was the importance of networking and building relationships within the industry. The speakers emphasised how connections can open doors to valuable opportunities and mentorships. This resonates with my commitment to actively engage with professionals in the legal field as I pursue my aspiration of studying law. Additionally, I gained valuable insights into the firm’s culture and values, which focus on collaboration, diversity, and innovation. Understanding the significance of these aspects has reinforced my desire to work in an environment that promotes inclusivity and encourages diverse perspectives. Thank you to Young Professionals for organising such an impactful event! I am eager to apply what I learned as I continue to navigate my journey toward a successful legal career. 💼🌍 #InsightIntoCliffordChance #YoungProfessionals #LegalCareer #Networking #FutureLawyer #ProfessionalDevelopment

Here are some upcoming deadlines for training contracts closing in the month of April. If you're planning to apply for any of these firms, be sure to be well prepared and spend plenty of time researching the firm. Explore our careers page for useful resources 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eHJBQKX4 #TrainingContract #LawStudents #LawSchool

#BigLawSummerSeries2024 Congratulations on hitting this milestone! You landed one of the coveted Big Law summer associate roles and now you're going to meet the rest of the people in the office you're going to be in. If you are in a new city, please make sure you take time when you're not engaging in all of the summer associate perks and celebrations, to check out the city you will ultimately end up working at the least the first few years of the life. I discuss all the reasons why in a later post. I really enjoyed my time as a summer associate and completely maxed out in every possible way. I worked on several teams, did marketing work and I just remembered I was also on a panel for a firm citizenship thing too...wonder if they still have video on that? At the firm that I summered and began my legal career, they did not mess around. We had a team of women who just showed up and showed out and I hope you have that for your summer program too. I met my work-husband my first day and we are still friends even though we both took hiatuses from Big Law last year (for different reasons). For the next 10-12 weeks, I will post tips for success in a Big Law firm as a #summerassociate. I get really detailed for some of the posts and provide advice from as many angles as possible. You probably don't need my advice though, because you are the crème de la crème of law students and pretty much know everything, that's why you got one of the gigs, right? I honestly started the series a couple years ago because when I was an associate, summers always seemed to flock to my office for tips about any and everything. After a while it made sense to start the series and let every summer associate in on some of the secrets. Stay tuned! Finally, if no one told you, I am so proud of you for accomplishing your outcomes so far and I know you will continue to thrive in your legal career. Note: although I have the 10-12 posts ready for the next few weeks, I am flexible enough to accept requests for advice that I don't present during this time, so ASK me to talk about anything you are itching to know. #summerassociateprogram #summerseries2024