Key skills for aspiring Solicitor Apprentices

Alex Curd gives insight to life as a solicitor apprentice and what he wishes he knew before starting.

In Alex's opinion, application season is now in full swing for aspiring Solicitor Apprentices looking into breaking into the industry, in the best way possible! Applying for Solicitor Apprenticeships is a tough process involving setbacks and rejections – something he became accustomed to during my application journey.

To help those considering putting their hat in the ring during the application process, or anyone successful in their application, from his brief six months experience, here are the key skills he's learned over his six months of experience that he wishes someone had told me before starting. These skills will be essential in making a good impression and ensuring you make the most of your six-year apprenticeship:

Firstly, and most importantly, it is okay to make mistakes. It can be daunting walking into a large city law firm for the first time with a personal expectation of perfection. This expectation only makes the prospect more challenging each day. Your colleagues understand that this may be your first professional working environment, and daily 'silly' mistakes are often met with nothing more than a shrug by those around you. The variety of work you'll encounter over the course of your apprenticeship will be vast, making mistakes inevitable. Whether it's changing department, university assignments, or new tasks within your current department, these mistakes should be embraced as learning opportunities rather than sources of stress. They will help you adapt as a colleague and a junior lawyer and should be viewed as development tools rather than setbacks.

Next, it cannot be understated how important it is to get yourself known around the firm, despite any initial intimidation you might feel. Whether it's asking for more work or generally greeting people with a 'good morning' when you walk into the office, building rapport with your department is crucial. While this advice may seem obvious, it can feel intimidating to make a good impression on everyone around you in such a new environment – especially when interacting with very senior lawyers you'll encounter daily.  Remember that these are real people who are likely just as interested in getting to know you and learning about the solicitor apprenticeship route in general. In my experience, you will develop interpersonal skills faster than you will realise; however, it's best to maintain an open-mind and adapt your communication style over time to suit different audiences 

The LinkedIn world offers great insights, but rarely discusses how challenging time management can be and how quickly you should master this skill. There are strategies to help with this challenge. The role will fluctuate between busy periods and quiet times; using these periods to your best advantage is crucial. During quieter periods at work, catch up on missed university work from the previous week or even get ahead on upcoming work. With practice over time, effective time management becomes an indispensable skill.

Finally, it's worth mentioning how important it is to use the support network your firm provided by your firm fully. Contrary to media portrayals like 'Suits' or John Grisham's legal thrillers depicting law firms as toxic environments filled with backstabbing culture—this couldn't be further from reality based on my experience starting out in a firm which provides significant benefits aiding both personal and professional development through initiatives such as 'Champions' and 'Buddies'. These resources regularly offer wellbeing support while addressing any issues faced by junior talent.

Finally, try absorbing as much knowledge from those around you whenever possible. The qualified lawyers seated near have years of expertise having mastered their trade – use their insights to your advantage. Pay attention not only towards how colleagues communicate with each other but also observe interactions between partners, associates and clients. Familiarise yourself with the everyday lingo used in these settings. This will contribute significantly to your growth and integration into the legal industry.