Career Clinic: I'm worried I won't be up to the job

What on earth is wrong with you? You haven't even started and you are already making excuses for yourself. Why don't you just grow a pair, get in there and get on with it?

Yes, everyone worries about the unknown, and there will be a very steep learning curve. If you are the type that can't take a bit of criticism now and then, or stand up to another person's argument and believe in yourself, then perhaps law isn't for you. However, if what you say is true, and that you do have a genuine interest for law and business, then why not give it your all, instead of wittering on about why you think you may not be up to the task.

Sorry if this is harsh, but it sounds like you need a bit of sense knocked into you. Besides, you will very quickly realise there are many successful lawyers at all levels who aren't the most intelligent people in the world but through a combination of other talents, experience, personality and hard work, contribute to the profession as a whole in a very meaningful way.

Anonymous -02 Jul 2009 | 10:58

Your fears are probably shared by most new trainees. Trust me, your confidence will take a bit of a beating at first, but you will get there. If it's a big City firm, no doubt other trainees intent on being obnoxious and way up themselves will tell you tales of the important work they are doing, how long they stay at the office and how they just love it. They might even say that they are doing better quality work than the lawyers. Big City trainees can be a bore - once they get to 1-2 pqe they will settle down. So ignore the office politics, keep your head down, work hard and you will be fine. Good luck!

US Associate -02 Jul 2009 | 11:22

Every trainee feels like that - as do most junior lawyers in the months after qualification.

Confidence gets you a long way, so start believing in yourself which will make it a lot easier for others to believe in you too.

Anonymous -02 Jul 2009 | 11:25

It is understandable to be apprehensive before starting a new role. You do need to have more confidence though in your abilities - after all, you have been selected from a no doubt large pool of very well qualified and driven candidates so the firm has seen that you have ability and potential. City firms, particularly in their core finance and corporate departments, are very tough environments and you do need to be fairly thick skinned to succeed. In your early years, you can expect to be frequently pushed out of your comfort zone and challenged. Other colleagues may not necessarily be supportive (mainly because they too are under a lot of pressure and working long hours) and do not generally have time to pander to other team member's insecurities. You say you want to build a career in this area - to do so, I think you will need to make sure you toughen up. In my experience, the people who succeed have a great deal of self belief (not the same as arrogance) and are quietly confident. They are not necessarily the brightest or the most driven. I think you need to honestly decide whether you have the type of character that will thrive in this kind of environment as it is not for everybody and you might be better suited (happier and just as well remunerated) to a different firm/practice area. Good luck.

In house counsel -02 Jul 2009 | 11:42

Huh??

Eh?!! You come across as a bit needy mate. You want us to tell you how great you are so you can feel better? If you are constantly seeking approval from others, that's going to be one long downward spiral. Look, you realise how many people applied for a TC at your top firm? Thousands probably. Say for example, 30 places were up for grabs and 3,000 people applied... you calculate your chances. You beat a lot of good candidates to land a TC. Be proud and celebrate that attaining that huge goal. Forget about what grad recruitment think now. That's in the past. You've secured your TC. My TC has also been deferred so I am at the same stage as you. Just look forward to evolving in your career. You're NOT expected to be perfect when you walk in the door but you are expected to want to learn and ask questions.

Metallica -02 Jul 2009 | 15:56

After my first trainee seats I felt that I was not 'getting it' as quickly as my fellow trainees. However, I found my feet in my fourth seat and I am now a 2 year PQE solicitor who is confident and gets consistently good feedback. Don't worry if it doesn't come as naturally to you as some others. Work hard and the rest will follow.

2 yr PQE -02 Jul 2009 | 16:05

What you think that you lack in your legal ability is made up for by having the balls to admit to having self-doubt. You are not the first and will not be the last to feel this way. When you went through the selection process there was something that the recruiters saw that they liked, so go with it. Now you need to deal with your self doubt. Do as much as you can between now and starting to put yourself outside your comfort zone - this is a traditional place to be as a trainee. Rather than worrying, relish the challenge and gear up.

Tone -02 Jul 2009 | 18:19

I think your problem is that you are going to have such a long wait to start the TC and this has given you time to allow self-doubt to creep in.
Remember why you wanted to practise law and hold that thought. It will get you through the challenges of completing your TC and then practising successfully when qualified.
Nervousness is normal, especially when you are doing something that is new to you or outside your comfort zone.
The best advice I was given when I qualified was that you never stop learning.
I have been qualified for 18 years and I assure you that qualified solicitors get nervous too - the difficult client who wants to play intellectual tennis with you, the tricky client (who may be just plain mad), the roundtable meeting you don't feel properly prepared for because you have not got enough hours in the day, the matter where your client's position is weak and you fear the other side know this, the complex matter which has been going on for such a long time that you have to re-read the file each time you work on it because you can't remember what it is about.
The difference is that it's easier to have confidence when you have some experience.
Stop worrying, your TC will probably be just fine and you'll wonder what you were so nervous about once you are in!

high street solicitor -03 Jul 2009 | 09:58

New job nerves are all part of the process - but to be so worried you actually chose to defer for a full year is very concerning and may suggest you have self esteem issues. Spend your additional gap year constructively (i.e. gaining work experience and not on a beach in Thailand).

KMA -03 Jul 2009 | 10:37

You answered your own question when you said "I have to graft to stay ahead". With that attitude, you will succeed.

wombat -03 Jul 2009 | 11:30

Being a trainee is not really very demanding - all it really requires is a degree of basic organisation, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Anonymous -08 Jul 2009 | 01:05

You know when I wrote this to Career Clinic, for some reason I didn't actually believe it would be published!?

Thank you for your comments - they are useful and I do think that bollocks are the order of the day. In 2 years time I may well be wondering what all the fuss was about!

PS: I didn't defer because of self-doubt; it was one of those "you don't have to defer if you don't wanna but if you don't defer we will make you" kind of situations!

The Author -10 Jul 2009 | 16:23

P.S. To the author: there is nothing worse than a chippy trainee with an undue sense of entitlement. Given your self-awareness, there is no chance you'll fall into this category so that's a good reason why any sane supervisor will be thanking their lucky stars that you're sitting with them. Good luck.

Anonymous -13 Jul 2009 | 17:58

Associate

Count yourself lucky that you are smart enough to have some rarely-found humility. Trainees who arrive on day 1 truly believing they know everything are usually wrong and often boring. People know you are there to learn. But make sure you do already know what you covered at law school!

Even if you panic at first, remember you will improve as you gain experience. If nothing else, you will learn over time not to worry when you are faced with a task you don't fully understand. Use the firm's available resources to research/learn what you can and chat to junior people for tips (they're often flattered).

You might have two awful seats followed by a seat you love - so don't lose heart. People muster (and develop) the enthusiasm to pursue this as a rewarding long-term career. You might be one of them.

Associate -16 Jul 2009 | 23:30

Trainees

I echo the comment about chippy trainees. Go in with a sense of humility and appreciation about the chance you have got, and make the best of it. You've beaten long odds already, so work hard and earn your own confidence and respect. Don't be the trainee who walked into my office three months in to his first seat asking how he could stop everyone thinking he was an ****hole after he overconfidently messed up.

Personnel Mgr -20 Jul 2009 | 09:13