A good piece of advice by Annie Tam.
The training contract application process lacks a positive reward system. A thought that I’ve come to realise what makes the ‘journey’ sometimes a bit unbearable. Rejections become the norm. Self-rejections become the norm. Imposter syndrome becomes the norm. I am sure many of us have fallen into the trap of thinking that receiving a training contract offer is the only form of success. The “future trainee” badge on LinkedIn equals success. No ifs, no buts.
This kind of mentality is making us overlook all the effort that we have put in all these time.
What about those many drafts that you made for one application? The succinct writing skills that we have developed in the process. The ability to pack all of our life stories, motivations and aspirations in just 250 words.
What about those webinars and employers’ presentations that you attended to improve the substance of your conversations.
What about those uncomfortable situations you put yourself into for continuous self-development, not just academically but also, you as a person. The endurance of pressure, overworking and sacrifices.
I want to normalise celebrating small progress.
I want students to understand that:
Turning up to networking events and talking to lawyers takes courage. Not a lot of people have that. Well done. And what’s more, you feel like you’ve made a fool of yourself every time you come out of a networking event, but you keep turning up. You keep turning up because you know that the more you go to, the more valuable connections you will make and the more comfortable you will be in ‘making a fool of yourself’.
Doing thorough research of different law firms to the point where you can recite and compare all the law firm USPs requires discipline and dedication. Well done. Not a lot of people have the patience to go beyond three clicks. Not a lot of people are willing to sacrifice and dedicate much of their free time in one thing. Hiding in the library away from your mates so that they think you are working on that seminar prep for tomorrow and just ‘wanted to concentrate’ when in reality, you were just doing some mad 38 pages research for the Open Day that you are turning up in two days’ time so that you can engage in some meaningful conversations.
Taking rejections so well, understanding that it is part of the process and continuing with your pursuit require resilience. Not a lot of people have that. Well done. Not a lot of people understand our journey will ultimately become our biggest asset and all the hard work makes up who we are today and in five years’ time. And it turns out, we are immune to rejections, and rather, we are more emotionally engaged when we receive an invitation email to an assessment centre because we know it’s our time to shine.
It is those who persevere and persist in the process that will get through to the end. If not, I’m equally sure you will come out of the process better and wiser.
Be your own biggest fan. Be so proud of yourself and of who you have become today.
Back yourself relentlessly. Please remind yourself everyday that not having a training contract does not define your ability in any way. Why? Because you strive to be the best version of yourself and when the time is right, you will be the best in the room because you have been patiently waiting for the right moment.
Give yourself a pat in the back everyday because you gave it your 100%. Not when you receive that phone call. The TC should be the by-product of all the attributes that you have been developing.
Written by Annie Tam and edited by Stephanos Christodoulou.
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