An insight into rejections and application preparation by Annie Tam.
To those who are looking to secure a training contract, it’s that time of the year. If you are a first & second year, save this article, revisit it later.
The Grad Recruit email came through.
You feel annoyed, frustrated and confused.
What went wrong?
It’s okay to be sad. Take a minute; take a moment to address your emotions. But it’s time to bounce back. The next step is to pick yourself back up. Reflect, have a plan, and act on it. Having the ability to bounce back helps you at every stage of the application process. It is a long process after all and your journey will ultimately become your strongest asset. You are not back to square one. Instead, every time you are accumulating so much more experience and stories than everybody else to be an expert of the different stages of the process. If securing a training contract is like a negotiation with the law firm, why would you want to get it too easily? You’d question its authenticity. The ‘No’ is part of the test.
But rejections happen all the time and each rejection is a redirection to a new opportunity. What is important is how you treat each new opportunity. Forgot to turn up to a committee position interview of the Law Society because you thought ‘reading week’ is basically a week-long bender, dropped your phone down the toilet in a club and couldn’t check your email? That’s fine. Try something else. Maybe the Negotiation Society. After networking like mad with people from the firm only to find out there isn’t a section for you to put down who you know. That’s fine. Keep those contacts and try a new strategy next time.
I’m not here to tell you the classic ‘it’ll all pay off’ when in fact you would rather have a screaming match with your imaginary friend saying ‘Why?’ Whatever that you do in any stage of the process, there is another important thing that you should never forget: your value. Remember how far you have come and how much more you can achieve now that you have more time. Your existing abilities, experiences and networking skills are what make you unique and you should be confident and proud of what you have. You want to be a lawyer. Act like one.
Thought you have given it a 100% this cycle?
Maybe it’s time to make it 120% next time. And this time, you have a head-start and is called “experience”. You are no longer starting from scratch. Stop being sad and move away from your couch/duvet hug. You need to be the person who tells the world that your bound back game is so strong that you are not going to take no for an answer. Now go put something on that application form and edit it for a hundred times. I’m here with you.
Written by Annie Tam and edited by Stephanos Christodoulou.
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