The top 5 tips from our guest bloggers in 2019
As 2019 draws to a close, we have reflected on the amazing guests we’ve had on our blog, and we’ve set out some of our favourite top tips for law students and young lawyers in this post. There is no doubt, being more than just a lawyer, being adaptable, focusing on self-care, and saying yes to opportunities are all common themes amongst our guests! But don’t take it from us, check out some of these pearls below.
1. From Caryn Sandler, partner in the Knowledge & Innovation team at Gilbert + Tobin: “Successful lawyers will need to be open to change, even if this is uncomfortable. The pace of change in our industry has accelerated, and tomorrow’s lawyers will need to be nimble and able to adapt quickly. I think law students have a fresh perspective on ways of working, so I would encourage them to always think about continuous improvement and ways in which their work can be done in a more efficient way, to challenge the status quo. Focus on the client and how you can solve their problems and become a true partner to them. Be curious and immerse yourselves in the changing legal landscape and evolving technology. This is an exciting time to be a lawyer, so I would encourage law students to embrace the opportunity.”
2. From Karina Veling, in-house lawyer at The Star: “Learn as much as you can outside of the law and your standard legal subjects. If you have electives, choose non-legal subjects. Perhaps this is commercial/business areas for the corporate minded, or even relationship building/soft skills for other areas of law such as family or criminal. As a corporate lawyer, I can say with full confidence that it always helps to have a commercial and business foundation, allowing you to better understand the drivers of your internal or external clients – this works for both in-house or private practice lawyers. It’ll give you a great head-start and set you apart from your peers.”
3. From Sophie Tversky, law graduate: “Run your own race, find good mentors, be curious, find your tribe and champion each other, make time for self-reflection and dreaming.”
4. From Pat Williams, barrister: “My single piece of advice is to beware burnout and working too hard. There is no doubt that working hard is a good thing, and a necessity to achieve and advance. However, it can be taken too far. In particular, there is a culture among many professionals within the industry to see working exceptional hours or weekends as a virtue in and of itself. It is not. It is corrosive to relationships and health. Working hard is important when there is work to be done, or where it is for a proper identifiable purpose (such as meeting a dealing of some description). It is, however, a road to personal disaster to spend extended hours in the office simply for the sake of it.”
5. Ellenor Hayes, IP lawyer, masters student and in-house intern at Spotify: “Don’t stress if you don’t get a summer clerkship at a top-tier firm. When I missed out, I was devastated, and I honestly thought that my legal career was over before it had begun. But instead, I spent a glorious summer working at a winery and developing what has become a lifelong passion and interest for me in wine and viticulture. (But, that’s a whole other story.) Also, almost everybody’s career path makes sense when you look back at it – but rarely does it feel like a logical journey while you’re experiencing it. Take the opportunities that feel right for you, even if they seem unconventional to others.”
