You may have read in the legal news recently about the Herbert Smith trainee solicitor who was re-instated after appealing against being sacked last year. The cause of this episode serves as a warning not only to trainees but also to anyone who is planning to undertake legal work experience with a firm.
Roll on Friday reported the HS trainee’s ‘crime’ to be reading her supervising partner’s confidential emails about who was to be taken on by the firm upon qualification.
I would certainly advise against snooping around for confidential information whilst on a work experience placement and I would also advise against the following:
- Don’t try too hard to impress as its easy to overcompensate and end up coming across as loud and arrogant.
- You are bound to be given some menial and boring tasks to do – always be enthusiastic and never look unhappy about it.
- Don’t help with the spreading of harmful gossip around the firm.
- Don’t act in a way that causes you to become the source of firm gossip. Socialising with your new colleagues is encouraged but try not to be the one everyone is talking about the day after the night before!
- Do not misuse the firm’s email system or spend lots of time using the internet/Facebook.
Having said all of this, you should always remember you are more than qualified and capable enough to be undertaking work experience placements. So throw yourself into them and enjoy them!
