Instead of creating another list today, I thought I'd provide you with an actual update on all the goings on in the past few weeks. Though I'm still including gifs because they're my favourite part of this process.
New seat
So as I mentioned, I moved into my second seat which is part of Real Estate. I am having such a great time, enjoying the added responsibility and client contact that's usual for trainees in Real Estate compared to the more hierarchical litigation. I do miss the precision of litigation though - exacting standards of organisation and drafting that would be inefficient in Real Estate and Corporate where you're juggling tens of matters at the same time and have to quickly get things off your desk. These groups have a different balance going for them, and while it works just as well, it's a new style to get used to.
When I first got to my new group, I was exhausted. What a stupid idea not to take a holiday in the last week of my last seat! While it's true that everything was exciting and new, for the first few days it was hard to shake off this feeling:
Once that feeling wore off, I concentrated on making a good impression from the outset. I've learned that if you start off appearing nervous, it's hard to shake off that first impression. So I went in with guns blazing, set up all my electronic and hard copy folders like a pro, put my game face on and agreed to take on work, hoping that I would figure out what the hell I was doing after that person had left. I think I totally nailed it:
Another thing that I'm loving in this new seat is how down to earth the partners are. I was working at my desk, when one of the partners came in to ask my supervisor if she would come with him to the partners' lunch. They spent the next 10-15 minutes working out a social strategy for how to approach the lunch - where they would stand, who they would aim to talk to, what their back-up plans were. It was so funny, exactly like the strategy sessions in high school about how to approach a school dance. Except this partners' lunch was provided every day. I couldn't help laughing, or 'snickering' as one of the partners called it, haha! It was refreshing to see them being completely normal. Like that time my supervisor had Doritos for breakfast the other day:
New friends
In my advocacy course, I made friends with a lovely English girl/woman (what do you call females in their mid-twenties?) from another city law firm. Making friends with people from other law firms has made me realise that we're all pretty much the same! I tell this story, only because it gave rise to one of the funniest examples of cultural difference I've experienced so far.
We had a lovely time getting to know each other on a rare London sunny day, and my friend was telling me about her days boarding in an English girls' school. She said that at times she didn't enjoy it because "some of the girls were..."
Me: "BITCHES"
Her: "...not my cup of tea".
Haha!
The gym
Just an update to say that all the progress I was making at the fancy gym near work collapsed in the seat transition. I guess finishing up all my work, providing the hand over, packing up my stuff, then unpacking my stuff at my new desk and starting my new work, all took their toll on my fitness. When I finally got back into my routine after a couple of weeks, I felt like this:
Ireland
Lastly, I got to go on a Graduate Recruitment trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland and speak to university students about our firm. I really enjoyed it, and not just because it was a free trip with work where we got to hang out and have drinks. I think I enjoyed it most because I could talk genuinely about liking my firm. I spoke to some of the representatives from other firms at the careers fair, and to be honest they seemed a little scripted. It was a strange feeling being on the other side though, I can say that!
I loved Dublin and Belfast, and had a great time getting to know the other people on the trip. I was not expecting the late night drinking though, and had to fly back on Friday morning and go to work with only 3 hours sleep. Totally worth it.
New seat
So as I mentioned, I moved into my second seat which is part of Real Estate. I am having such a great time, enjoying the added responsibility and client contact that's usual for trainees in Real Estate compared to the more hierarchical litigation. I do miss the precision of litigation though - exacting standards of organisation and drafting that would be inefficient in Real Estate and Corporate where you're juggling tens of matters at the same time and have to quickly get things off your desk. These groups have a different balance going for them, and while it works just as well, it's a new style to get used to.
When I first got to my new group, I was exhausted. What a stupid idea not to take a holiday in the last week of my last seat! While it's true that everything was exciting and new, for the first few days it was hard to shake off this feeling:
Once that feeling wore off, I concentrated on making a good impression from the outset. I've learned that if you start off appearing nervous, it's hard to shake off that first impression. So I went in with guns blazing, set up all my electronic and hard copy folders like a pro, put my game face on and agreed to take on work, hoping that I would figure out what the hell I was doing after that person had left. I think I totally nailed it:
Another thing that I'm loving in this new seat is how down to earth the partners are. I was working at my desk, when one of the partners came in to ask my supervisor if she would come with him to the partners' lunch. They spent the next 10-15 minutes working out a social strategy for how to approach the lunch - where they would stand, who they would aim to talk to, what their back-up plans were. It was so funny, exactly like the strategy sessions in high school about how to approach a school dance. Except this partners' lunch was provided every day. I couldn't help laughing, or 'snickering' as one of the partners called it, haha! It was refreshing to see them being completely normal. Like that time my supervisor had Doritos for breakfast the other day:
New friends
In my advocacy course, I made friends with a lovely English girl/woman (what do you call females in their mid-twenties?) from another city law firm. Making friends with people from other law firms has made me realise that we're all pretty much the same! I tell this story, only because it gave rise to one of the funniest examples of cultural difference I've experienced so far.
We had a lovely time getting to know each other on a rare London sunny day, and my friend was telling me about her days boarding in an English girls' school. She said that at times she didn't enjoy it because "some of the girls were..."
Me: "BITCHES"
Her: "...not my cup of tea".
Haha!
The gym
Just an update to say that all the progress I was making at the fancy gym near work collapsed in the seat transition. I guess finishing up all my work, providing the hand over, packing up my stuff, then unpacking my stuff at my new desk and starting my new work, all took their toll on my fitness. When I finally got back into my routine after a couple of weeks, I felt like this:
Ireland
Lastly, I got to go on a Graduate Recruitment trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland and speak to university students about our firm. I really enjoyed it, and not just because it was a free trip with work where we got to hang out and have drinks. I think I enjoyed it most because I could talk genuinely about liking my firm. I spoke to some of the representatives from other firms at the careers fair, and to be honest they seemed a little scripted. It was a strange feeling being on the other side though, I can say that!
I loved Dublin and Belfast, and had a great time getting to know the other people on the trip. I was not expecting the late night drinking though, and had to fly back on Friday morning and go to work with only 3 hours sleep. Totally worth it.
