Welcome to This Year's New Candidate Attorneys

 

Before the troubles of Covid-19 I enjoyed meeting the new candidate attorneys that have just joined the firms here in my area and seeing how they go about their business at Court and hearing what they had to say at our Attorneys' Circle meetings.

Up to now, however, I have had little time and chance to do so. Since I have joined my current firm, however, I was once again reminded of what a new and exciting time serving articles is in any candidate's life.

This post is for you who have just begun looking for employment as a Candidate Attorney or who has already entered into a contract with a firm.

Sit down a bit and listen. This old-timer has some pointers for the road ahead...

You see- those 4 (or in some cases more...) years that you have spent at University have not prepared you for the work that you are about to do. You will soon understand why you are required to undergo that Practical Legal Training and trust me- you will in due course appreciate the Practice Management  Training that you will have to do after admission. 

(No- you have to! Even if you think you will never need to open your own practice).

First of all- serving articles is not a job. Sure- you will get work to do, but your main focus should be on learning. Your firm will give you whatever work it deems you capable of doing, but it is up to you to increase your capability.

If you wish to work in Family Law, but find yourself stuck in a firm that specialises in only debt collections nothing stops you from accepting a family law matter and working on it along with your existing work to gain experience.

After passing your Board Exam the time for marks and certificates will be over. Now the one currency that carries huge value will be experience. The sooner you gain it, the better. And trust me- you can never have enough of it.

Don't focus on pleasing your boss or advancing in the firm. In other lines of work brown-nosing is essential for climbing the corporate ladder. In this line of work you either progress up it or you make your own ladder. If you have skills that nobody else has the recognition and promotion will follow. If it doesn't you will in any event be able to open your own practice in due course.

I have worked for other attorneys at 3 different firms before my current firm. I can say that- although all 3 of these firms have given me a good amount of work to do daily and although these firms have already been "specialising" in their proprietors' chosen fields of law- none of my employers have ever stopped me from introducing work in a field of law to which they have not been accustomed. As long as the money comes to the firm and you still get your other work done you will not have any problems.

This brings me to my next bit of advice- 

Don't wait for your Principal to give you work. Go look for work. Start within your own firm. If you can't find enough work inside your firm, invite new clients to the firm and help them. After all- few things add value to a Candidate or a Professional Assistant like a steady client base. It is also good insurance for when things between you and the firm don't work out.

Never be scared to take those unwanted telephone calls that the employees around you strategically avoid. The best opportunities can sometimes be found with the person calling. This is a service industry and the quicker you become good at delivering service the better it will be for you.

And- don't worry about not knowing everything. Trust me- you never will. Even after how many years of post-admission experience. Don't be discouraged by this. Rather get used to researching on a regular basis and learning how to use your most vital sources of information: Legislation, Case Law and the occasional conversation with a generous colleague.

In this profession we make a difference in people's lives. I really hope that each and everyone of you will embrace this and enjoy your careers.