Addleshaw Goddard: Finding Your Legal Journey
Kyle Sinclair shares his legal journey and how he became a solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard.
How do I choose which area of law to practise?
As a law student, the question above might seem like a million miles away from requiring a solid answer. The demands of studies, exams and applying for vacation schemes and traineeships are, as I know all too well, all-consuming. For some, this question might be asked and answered simply by virtue of the type of firm you are able to secure your traineeship with. However, choosing a practice area that suits you well early on is something that would rarely be a bad idea.
But how?
This isn't straightforward. Gaining exposure to differing areas of law can be extremely tough – especially when competition for vacation schemes and work experience is so stiff. And our profession is extremely varied. The types of work a criminal solicitor does could not be further from my job in commercial and data protection law. The best case scenario you can hope for is being able to secure a traineeship with at least one seat in an area of law that interests you, and make your decision based on your experiences. But that isn't always possible.
So how do you find this stuff out without working directly in that practice area?
My (overly) simple answer is: talk.
Speaking to solicitors or trainees at firms that interest you is, in my opinion, the single most important aspect of gaining an early understanding of what the job actually entails – and, ultimately, if it would be right for you. It also sends the right signals to potential employers, where enthusiasm and a genuine interest in certain roles will go a long way to making you the ideal candidate.
Here are a few practical steps you could take to generally learn a bit more:
Reach out to lawyers/trainees directly – generally speaking, we're all a pretty sociable bunch, and most of us love the opportunity to talk about ourselves… If you've got genuine interest in what someone does, you'll rarely be disappointed with the level of response. Everyone's on LinkedIn, and shouldn't be too difficult to find.
Attend networking events – firms like Addleshaw Goddard run frequent trainee/student-focussed events that are ideal places to get a bit of practical knowledge about what someone's working day looks like. Sign up (even if just for the complementary beverages…) and hopefully you'll leave a bit more informed than you were beforehand.
Use your contacts – speak to friends/family/classmates who work in different industries, and try to get an idea from them what legal challenges are involved in those sectors. Understanding what these are can give you an insight into what the work their lawyers do involves, and give you some of that valuable "commercial awareness" that every employer covets these days (sorry!).
What’s right for me?
Having this knowledge will help you make an informed choice when it eventually comes time to applying for NQ roles. Playing to your strengths and specific interests will pay dividends when it comes time to choose a specialism. Conversely, it is also just as valuable to work out what you really DON'T like – not every area of law will appeal to every lawyer, and that's okay.
Choosing a practice area may seem daunting, but hopefully with a little preparation, and a good bit of chatting, the choice won't be as hard to make when the time comes.
If you'd like to find out more about the work I do at Addleshaw Goddard, or about our firm in general, feel free to contact me here or email kyle.sinclair@addleshawgoddard.com.
