Seven tips I wish someone had told me when starting out as a solicitor

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11 Jan 2024
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Deadlines. Rejection. Personal expectations. Building your career as a solicitor may come with unforeseen roadblocks as well as the challenges you expected. We asked seven solicitors to share the best tips and advice that have helped them in their own careers.

1. Avoid too much comparison

“I was told not to compare myself to others and focus on where I’m trying to go.

“Taking control of what my goals were and building upon my own strengths helped me both professionally and personally.

“I was better able to prioritise my own personal growth and career development and stop focusing on what those around me were doing.”

Read more about Justin's career

Justin Farrance is a man with short, curly dark brown hair. He is smiling widely and stands in a courtyard garden, surrounded by old stone walls. He wears an open-collar white shirt and a navy jacket.

2. Look after your sense of self-worth

“Don’t be intimidated. You can be put down because of your background or accent, or something equally unfair.

“This ties in with one of my favourite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt who said: ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’”

Read more advice from Helen

Helen Shay is a white woman with long, straight blonde hair and a fringe. She is smiling and stands in a library. She wears a blue blazer over a blue, red and white patterned dress.

3. Prepare to think commercially and creatively

“If you hit a roadblock, find a way to get through it or around it and always look for practical/commercial solutions, not just the legal ones!”.

“This advice has served me well!”

More from Salma’s journey into law

Salma Maqsood is a woman of South Asian heritage who wears a black headscarf. She is smiling and stands in front of a cathedral. She wears a black coat over a black floral dress.

4. Bring your difference to work

“Don’t be afraid to look at what makes you different and stand out when looking for your strengths.

“At an assessment day, I was immediately put at ease when a recruiter said: “You do you.”

“That moment led me to realise that I did not go into law to escape from the world I knew, and my energy was wasted trying to fit in.

“During times of struggle I had unknowingly developed skills that I could bring to the profession. These skills included creativity (for example the workarounds I developed for my dyslexia), resilience (built through dealing with hard times and rejections), and communication (through developing support networks).”

Read more from Lynette on overcoming challenges

Lynette Wieland is a white woman with long, straight blonde hair. She stands outside and is smiling widely, wearing a teal and black patterned dress.

5. Find new ways to stretch yourself

“Continually push your limits past your comfort zone, otherwise you will eventually come to a halt.”

Discover Qalid's path into law

Qalid Mohamed is a Black man with short, black afro hair. He is smiling and stands in a park outside of an industrial building. He wears a pale blue shirt and glasses.

6. Be your own advocate

“Always be vocal about your goals.

“Nobody will know what you want to achieve if you do not tell them and communicating your ambitions to a wide range of people will often assist you in moving forward.”

Read more tips from Alice

Alice Kinder is a white woman with long, curly blonde hair. She is smiling widely and stands outside, in front of a grand, brick building. She wears a long-sleeved black dress and a silver necklace.

7. Stay open minded

“Push every door when considering new opportunities. A tutor at university once told me ‘You never know where one might lead’. And he was right.

“I had a set idea in my head of where a career in law might lead, but the most important thing at a junior stage is to be open minded.

“You really don’t know where opportunities can lead, so I would encourage people not to focus too much on one direction too early.

“Some things take longer and take a more winding route – and that’s fine! It’s the journey that makes it!”

Find out about Sam’s start in law

Sam Butler is a white man with closely shaved hair and a short beard. He is smiling and wears a black suit, white shirt and dark red tie.

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Career support for newly qualified solicitors

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