When one decides to become a lawyer, as with most things, we think we know what we are getting into. Some of the obvious challenges are expected; we know we are going to have to work hard throughout our academic training, but at least for me, I thought that would be the most challenging part.
Upon getting qualified, I thought the really hard part would be behind me, I mean no more exams, right?
As a professor once said, “when you begin to practice law every day it feels like you are writing an exam.”
I laughed because I thought, “how silly is that, why would I feel perpetually trapped in an examination?” and I brushed off her warning.
To this day, I still recall that warning. A clear sign that my professor knew exactly what she was speaking about.
There are many challenges lawyers face, and today I want to offer a snapshot of some of them. As the saying goes, “to be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
Confronting your ego
1. In the beginning, the first challenge often begins with the ego. By which I mean overcoming several misconceptions:
- I am a qualified lawyer. I know what I am doing.
- I am a lawyer. Doing administrative work is beneath me.
- There is nothing I can learn from support staff.
You may have your own ego-driven beliefs, but they’re the first things that need to be checked at the door. An early lesson I learnt is that our legal academic training prepares us, but by no means teaches us all that we need to know. Secondly and in quick succession, learning from the ground up is key; and finally, no one can help you more than your support staff members.
I had the misfortune of recently meeting some senior staff members who did not know how to use a scanner. The tragedy of not grasping the groundwork, which includes copying, bundling, proofreading and otherwise vetting legal documents, is that it reflects in the overall quality of work presented to the Court.
Trust me here, Judges notice these things. I once had a Judge pull me into her chambers and her guidance was profound: she told me to always be mindful of the quality of work I submitted because who knows where it may reach one day. Meaning that a simple application can one day be the subject of an appeal and move upwards through the various levels of your court system.
Proving yourself
2. As you progress in your Legal career, setting boundaries becomes a real challenge. In the beginning, we tend to be out to prove ourselves. There are dues to be paid; endless hours, late nights, and weekends being dedicated to the job are all proof of your commitment. During this initiation we lose our sense of self, we even tend to neglect our own health, well-being, and family life. What we sometimes fail to grasp is that this is not just a phase—this is the life of a lawyer. We must learn to walk the fine line, hit that proverbial sweet spot in seeking balance between our professional and personal lives. Neither extreme is going to work in the long run. The reality is whilst this career is not your typical 8–4 job, there remain ways to set healthy boundaries that do not affect your capabilities. Some simple techniques are:
- Setting specific times to check emails.
- Limiting distractions so that you can focus on a single task at a time.
- Set specific times to accept phone calls from clients/colleagues.
- Turn off calls and emails at a set time, such as 7:00 p.m. or even earlier, and communicate it to colleagues.
- Create a self-care ritual. I have found that early in the morning, even if it means rising at 5:00 a.m., allows this time to be available.
- Be flexible with your hours. Some days you may work extra, others you may shut off early, but in the end, get the job done.
Lawyers fear public speaking too
3. A unique challenge for us in the Caribbean is that we are trained to function holistically as both an advocate and instructing lawyer. Many of my colleagues, particularly women, expressed that they did not like advocacy. During law school I know I was in that category. The reason was simple, the skill of “public speaking”—communicating my viewpoint to others—was outside of my comfort zone. I was always the quiet one in class, never wanting to speak up, just kept my head down and my ideas would only find its way onto paper. This is where real life steps in and experience teaches us, shapes us, and helps us evolve. Had I been given a choice, I would have never entered the realm of advocacy, but I ended up as a State Prosecutor in my early days. That training gave me the experience so that I no longer feared speaking in Court, even with the public gallery. As with all things we fear, we only do so until we try it. The key here is to not let your fears limit your growth as a lawyer.
Being classified as the small fry
4. Whether you are a young or seasoned lawyer, another real challenge is either being heard or listening to others. As young lawyers, it is sometimes a challenge to feel heard. You have ideas and suggestions, and your style is likely different from your seniors; but like a strong branch, if you do not wish to break against the winds you must learn to bend. The ability to communicate your ideas and be open to feedback that sometimes you don’t agree with can be a challenge. Having now sat in both roles, what I have found most helpful is two-fold: communicate your ideas, even proposals for change, clearly and simply always highlighting the benefits. Regularly pause in your communication and ask questions, a simple one is “does this make sense to you?” As you develop, you also want to maintain the quality of listening to be heard. This ensures that you do not become so set in your ways that your way becomes the only right way.
Finding your niche
5. Finally, finding the field/area of law that you enjoy and want to grow into is another challenge. Let me say firsthand this has not been easy, I have worked in criminal, corporate, labor relations, energy, and child protection law to date. For those who continue to explore the many areas of law, it’s okay if you have not settled down yet. Just keep exploring and in so doing your bag of skills will continue to grow.