MAKING MISTAKES AS A YOUNG LAWYER: HELPFUL GUIDANCE – WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS…

The post yesterday on making mistakes as a young lawyer got a lot of attention and comment.  For that reason I have decided to re-post something on the same vein.  This post is based on guidance given on Twitter in April 2019.   Many members of the profession offered advice on what lawyers should do “when the sky falls in”.

 

 

“My good friend once led with “your honour I have looked exhaustively at who is to blame for this and I’m afraid that it is me””

THE CHALLENGE…

Supervision doesn’t cover everything (eg claim done but not sent), but the principle holds true. Supervisor should take responsibility, and we all make mistakes at times.

Ask for help and support, everyone needs to ask questions it is not a bad thing.

Depends on why the sky is falling in on you. Ask yourself why you became a lawyer in the first place. If it was for a corrupt intent, or if your firm has corrupted you, accept you are the problem. Otherwise, the Law always allows for a solution.

Depends on why the sky is falling in on you. Ask yourself why you became a lawyer in the first place. If it was for a corrupt intent, or if your firm has corrupted you, accept you are the problem. Otherwise, the Law always allows for a solution.

If you are NQ, your mistakes are your supervisor’s mistakes too. Either they didn’t supervise closely enough or gave you too much responsibility. A good supervisor will recognise this and share both the client and emotional burden with you.

Unless you messed up pagniating. In which case it’s on you. Page turn next time.

The Ground Swallow Me feeling when the employment judge says “I appear not to have a page 104.” Never trust the machines. Ever.

Before taking your mistake to someone senior for advice or help, which is a must, prepare a full note of the case and your actions/inactions. It will help immensely in finding a solution, and make sure you send it to your insurer. Whatever the result the sun will rise tomorrow.

1. Breathe. If you can calm down and see the wood for the trees you may realise what you need to do to sort it out. 2. Tell your supervisor whether you know how sort it or not. You will often find that it’s not as bad as you thought. 3. Take action immediately.

Lawyers in trouble. Just an extra thought Gordon. It must sometimes be difficult to raise a difficult problem with an employer. Another possibility is to suggest that solicitors in difficulty could talk to their Council Member. Generally speaking we are a worldly wise lot (as well as being world weary) but we are there because we are dedicated to the solicitors profession. There is a Council member for virtually every area in England and Wales and I believe any one of us would be happy to help someone in our patch who has got into difficulty

1. Remember 99.9% of problems can be fixed & costs penalties are not the end of the world. 2. Ask for help and make sure your manager is in the loop. 3. Never sacrifice your integrity. 4. Do what you can in a timely manner. 5. Remember the sun will still rise tomorrow.