How to make a good impression on your training contract

Dear Oracle

I start my training contract in September and was wondering how I can make a positive impression and stand out from the crowd. Also, what should I aim to achieve in each seat?

The Oracle replies

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When you start your training contract, you must continue to  demonstrate the qualities you showed at your initial training contract interview and/or vacation scheme. Have confidence that the law firm has hired you as a trainee because it thinks you’re capable of doing the job and believes you’ll be a good fit. The firm will also want to see the real you, so don’t try to be someone you’re not – let your personality come across, be polite and engage with others across the business.

Below, we’ve outlined a few other key mantras you can think about as you commence your training contract.

Be keen

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and regularly inquire how you can assist others in the departments you sit in. Read independently about each area of practice you experience and stay up to date with developments outside of your own work to demonstrate your commercial awareness. A trainee that’s proactive, open to taking on new work and trying new things will impress supervisors and the rest of the team.

Be reliable

Departments want trainees they can rely on to produce high-quality work. If that means taking slightly longer to understand a problem or area, or staying late to meet a deadline then so be it. Senior lawyers ultimately want all members of their team to be diligent and responsible – this means putting the time and effort in when necessary and being consistent.

Be social

Develop friendships within the law firm that are based on initiative and positivity. Don’t join in with moaning or unpleasant gossip. Participate in team-based extracurricular activities and social events.

Think about how you can be an ambassador for the firm (eg, taking a role with a local young professionals’ group). Can you get involved with the firm’s recruitment aspect, and volunteer to attend law fairs and presentations to speak with prospective candidates? As a qualified lawyer, you’ll be expected to represent the firm at external events, so get practising early!

Be dedicated

Work hard to develop and improve your skills during your training contract. This includes your written and oral skills across many formats and scenarios. How  can you improve your drafting and proofreading, for example? Stay in regular contact with your supervisor to keep track of what’s going well and what areas you can improve in. Nobody is good at everything, and the key to career development is to be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. You should then address the areas you find challenging.

Individual seats

As for what you should be aiming for in each seat, this is a question to ask of your firm's training partner or supervisor. They may have checklists. If not, you could perhaps discuss with your seat supervisor whether you can create a seat checklist together. In many firms, policy is co-authored by trainees and partners. If you feel yours falls short on formal, written procedure then perhaps this is something you and your peers can think about.

Haven’t secured a training contract yet? Read our training contract application masterclass, check out our guidance for how many applications to make and our advice on preparing for the scenario-based questions you’ll be asked at interview.