Tutors Green’s Post

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The first time it was suggested I'd end up getting disbarred was before I even became a lawyer. It was at the end of my articling term (apprenticeship for Canadian lawyers) and my then managing partner was putting me through an ethics exam. This was a mandatory part of articling. You had to pass in order to be eligible to become called to the bar. I was pretty smart. Very good at understanding and applying the law. On the other hand, my judgement and discretion was - lets say - "still developing". Question after question and answer after answer, I would see my managing partner pause, look at me, and raise her eyebrows. Then she would scratch some notes on a pad and move on. At the end of the exam, she looked up at me and said: "Stevie (at the time we had an affectionate relationship) - in 10 years you're either going to be a very successful lawyer or disbarred." I took it as a compliment as I tend to do with any feedback that has a hint of praise. And from there I set out to prove that I was worth betting on. *** There are so many things that young lawyers have little or no control over. The work you are assigned. By who. The clients you work for. The firm's bottom line. Other stuff too. But what you do have control over is how hard you are willing to work. Quality. Quantity. Creativity. Grit. Initiative. These are all in your control. In explaining his early career success, Steve Martin once said: "Be so good they can't ignore you." ..... "Be so good they can't ignore you" That's it.

🛎"You are perfect as you are, but you can always get better." 🛎 This really resonated with me. Believing we're perfect can close us off to valuable feedback that helps us grow, both personally and professionally no matter if we are a trainee, solicitor, or partner. Our development is a never-ending journey—we are never a "finished product." Constructive feedback, especially when it comes from a caring place, is a powerful tool for improvement. It's all about open discussions and seeking solutions, not negative gossips.🌟 I'm lucky to have tasks where I get regular feedback from Nina Wilson, and I know this will accelerate my learning. It is only been two weeks, and I am already looking forward to the next few months. #CommercialPropertyTeam #CommercialProperty #GrowthMindset #ContinuousImprovement #FeedbackIsKey #TraineeSolicitorJourney #Appreciation #WilsonBrowneSolicitors

✨ TOP TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR TRAINING CONTRACT ✨ 1. Mentors - if your firm offers a mentor, this is a great opportunity to speak to someone who works in the firm, and ask advice outside of those you work alongside day to day. Mentors can help you with how to address general concerns, manage work loads or any questions you have generally about your career. They are also more likely to know who can help you, if they can't, and point you in their direction. 2. Coffee - reach out to other trainees or junior lawyers in the firm for a coffee and a chat. Get to know the people around you as they will be the people you grow with over years to come 3. Opportunity - there are lots of new opportunities to network, be involved in the community and grow your skills - embrace as many as you can! 4. Questions - do not be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure. Lawyers can forget you are entirely new to an area and may not know what they are talking about! 5. Fun - have fun and enjoy the next part of your journey to becoming qualified. You have worked hard and the end is in sight 🥂 #humanfirst #strongertogether #career #trainingcontract

Let’s onboard 100 trainees in 30 minutes with one simulator 2/60 When I got into a law firm I was extremely cautious. Making a mistake was scary. I wish I had a place to practice first and then get to work. And I know what many would say. Learning on the job is fine. This is why the work in a law firm is so valuable. I can’t fully agree. Learning on the job is great but also extremely time-consuming (and stressful). It is based on feedback loops. Your mentor (senior lawyer) is not a teaching expert. They can hardly share with you everything you need to know. They can comment on what they see but cannot predict what your next move or mistake will be. So that’s how it works: 🔄 You do something – make mistakes – get feedback - redo – make new mistakes – get new feedback – redo … without ever really knowing where the finish is … And with law firms such as CMS UK, Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May having up to 100 (!) trainees, I can hardly imagine how much time is spent on explaining things. Won’t it be easier to think in advance about what is expected, create a simulator, let the trainee go through all the scenarios and only then start working with a senior lawyer? It will save senior lawyers' expensive time and let juniors learn more while not depriving the latter of communication with more experienced colleagues. And it’s not that hard and time-consuming to do. Let me show you how in the video below ⬇️ _______ 👋 This a series of posts (now 2 out of 60) trying to persuade law firms and GCs to try a new approach to training lawyers. If you like the ideas of simulators, please reach out to me or share this post with those who might be interested. Thank you!

💭New Year Reflection posts: Are they over-saturated and unnecessary? Or, are they a great opportunity to celebrate the wins and to acknowledge where to improve next year? It’s a topic of fierce debate. Undeniably, reflection is important for progression, so any opportunity for apprentices to reflect is a good opportunity. But, is that just a convenient reason for me to write this post when, in fact, I might just love a New Year’s reflection? I will let you make your own mind up… In the meantime, here are 5 strategies I have found helpful as a Solicitor Apprentice in 2024. 1️⃣ Figure out the role individuals play in the team 🤝 As a Solicitor Apprentice, learning is a HUGE part of the job, but so is learning how to ACQUIRE this knowledge. Of course, completing your own research is usually the best place to start with unfamiliar tasks. However, knowing when to turn to a trainee, paralegal or the matter fee earner for specific information is often a great stepping stone for progressing with the task as efficiently as possible. A lot of this can be made easier by building your network. 2️⃣ Don’t forget a notepad 📝 Imagine, you have just received instructions on a task from a member of your team. You walk away thinking you have a clear understanding of the task, only to sit at your desk and realise you have forgotten the specific details of what that task required. It’s a situation no apprentice, trainee or ANYONE wants to be in. Luckily, always having a notepad is a great way to avoid this! 3️⃣ Build your personal brand 💪 As a Solicitor Apprentice, you will be exposed to lots of great opportunities to support the team with legal work and to build your skills. A good thing to remember though, whilst you are still developing your technical ability, is that building a personal brand where people know you for being eager to learn, curious and willing to help the team can go a long way when trying to find further opportunities to develop. People want to support people who want to learn. 4️⃣ Engage with the wider firm 🙋♀️ Volunteer for wider opportunities within the firm, whether that be to offer capacity to support with an access programme, a charity initiative or supporting the Practice Development Team. These are all great opportunities to first and foremost give something back and do good. In addition to this though, these opportunities often enable you to network with people outside of your core team and build strong relationships. 5️⃣ Challenge yourself 🏆 The Solicitor Apprenticeship programme will at times push you outside your comfort zone and challenge you, but that is often the best way to learn and is what the apprenticeship is all about. So much satisfaction can come from achieving the goals you didn’t think were possible. Lean into the challenge so that, this time next year, you can look back on 2025 having achieved more than you dreamed of. 🎉Happy New Year!

🌟 Weekend Motivation! 🌟 Happy weekend! As you carve your path in the legal profession, remember that every step you take, no matter how small, brings you closer to your goal. Here are a few thoughts to inspire and keep you motivated: 📚 Embrace Continuous Learning: “The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” – B.B. King Every case you study, every moot court you participate in, and every legal principle you master is a brick in the foundation of your future success. Keep building! ⚖️ Stay Passionate: “Justice delayed is justice denied.” – William E. Gladstone Your passion for justice is what fuels the profession. Let your drive to make a difference be the light that guides you through challenging times. Your dedication can change lives. 💼 Build Resilience: “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz The road to becoming a barrister is paved with rigorous exams, internships, and countless hours of preparation. Embrace the process, learn from your setbacks, and press forward with resilience. 👥 Network and Learn: “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” – Oprah Winfrey Engage with mentors, peers, and legal professionals who inspire and challenge you. The relationships you build now will form a valuable support network throughout your career. 🛀 Take Time for Yourself: “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow.” – Eleanor Brown Use this weekend to recharge. Whether it’s catching up on your favorite book, enjoying a walk in nature, or simply resting, taking care of yourself is crucial for maintaining your passion and drive. Keep striving, keep learning, and keep pushing the boundaries of what you can achieve. The legal profession is not just about understanding laws but about making a meaningful impact on society. You are on a profound journey—embrace it with all your heart. Wishing you a motivated, restful, and productive weekend! 🌟 #WeekendMotivation #AspiringBarristers #LegalProfession #ContinuousLearning #Resilience #WorkLifeBalance #LegalJourney

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💼 Insight to Slaughter and May I attended Slaughter and May’s Insight to Slaughter and May event yesterday, thank you to Dan M. and @Caira O’ Reilly for the welcome and introduction! 🏢 ❓: All about Slaughter and May (Nick Pacheco) - The international law firm has over 1,500 people globally including 114 partners, one being Nick Pacheco. What sets aside Slaughter and May from different law firms is their 4 key differences; Multi-specialist approach, International strategy, Lack of billing targets and Culture. 📈: Multi-specialist - Nick Pacheco describes how people are judged based on their quality of work and not how long it may take them as they’re client focused and have a breadth and variety of work. 🌍: International strategy - Slaughter and May’s international strategy means they have relationships with market leading firms as they have a shared focus on culture and quality. ⏰: Lack of billing targets - This ensures that within the company there’s no sense of competition within the working environment as there’s no billing targets, emphasising the quality of work. 🧑🧒🧒: Culture - Nick Pacheco describes the employees as going out of their way to support eachother and provide the best service they can to their clients. They have 11 networks and an Innovation Network. 💼: The Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme (Adam Cooke) - The 6 year programme was outlined with 4 additional key factors; Pastoral Care, Training and Skills, Personal Growth, and Integration. Adam Cooke also mentioned having support teams during university which is really comforting to know that you will have support throughout the task of having to juggle work and school. 🗣️: Life as a Trainee Panel (@Natasha Neale, @Kieran Selby, @Olivia Bond, @Tyrese Akinwunmi) - These trainees all talked about how they progressed to becoming a Trainee at @Slaughter and May as well as describing their day to day life at the firm which was an interesting insight! 📝: How to apply? (@Caira O Reilly) - The application was outlined, highlighting how to amend our CV’s, do well on the situational judgement test and the interview process. Thank you Slaughter and May & Young Professionals for this amazing event! #YoungProffesionals

Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to attend a series of insightful events, including sessions with Lloyds Banking Group, UBS, KPMG and Mishcon de Reya LLP. Each event has provided me with valuable knowledge about the world of banking, finance, and law. Below, I’ll dive deeper into what I learned from these experiences. This post is detailed, so I’ll split it into two parts. Part Two Insight to KPMG (09/12/2024) I recently attended the KPMG event, and it was incredibly valuable and inspiring. The session offered a detailed overview of KPMG’s core values and what they seek in their employees, giving me a clearer understanding of how they operate as one of the Big 4 accounting firms. One of the key takeaways was learning about the wide range of career pathways available at KPMG, from audit and consulting to apprenticeship programs that allow you to work while pursuing a qualification. The event also covered the entry requirements for these opportunities, which was really helpful for understanding what I need to focus on to be a strong candidate. What stood out to me the most was the emphasis KPMG places on supporting their employees. The session also provided a realistic glimpse into what it’s like to work at KPMG, from collaborating on high-profile transactions to being at the forefront of business innovation. This event reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in finance and accounting, and I now have a clearer path for how to shape my journey. If you’re interested in working at a leading firm like KPMG, I highly recommend attending an event like this! Insight to Law with Mishcon de Reya LLP (10/12/24) I recently attended Mishcon de Reya’s Virtual Open Evening, and it was incredibly insightful. As one of the world’s leading law firms, Mishcon provided a comprehensive look at their 6-year solicitor apprenticeship programme, which offers a direct path to becoming a qualified solicitor while gaining hands-on experience. One of the highlights was hearing real stories from current apprentices. Their honest accounts gave me a realistic understanding of what it’s like to grow and thrive within a top-tier law firm. The session also covered Mishcon’s work with high-profile clients and their position at the forefront of the legal field, offering a unique perspective on career opportunities in law. Additionally, the expert application tips shared by the Careers Team were extremely helpful for anyone looking to stand out in a competitive application process. This event left me feeling more confident and inspired about pursuing a legal career, with a clear roadmap for the first steps ahead. I’d like to thank Young Professionals for making these events possible. They’ve broadened my understanding of various industries and provided me with the opportunity to connect directly with professionals, gaining practical advice for my career journey. I’m excited to continue exploring new opportunities and attending more events in the future!