As part of the advice I give every year to trainee solicitors, I always suggest putting some future dates in the diary “lines in the sand.” One of the most important is 1st July, tomorrow. At this point, I encourage trainees to take an honest look at where they are. If you haven’t secured the role you want by now, it’s time to start making some bigger decisions to open things up.
Three key questions to ask yourself:
Can you be more flexible on practice area?
If you’ve been focused purely on your first (or even second) choice, it may be time to broaden your thinking.
What skills have you already developed?
Where else could they be transferable?
Being slightly more open here can make a huge difference.
Can you realistically relocate?
Geography matters more than people think.
If you are open to moving:
Take the time to properly research towns and cities
Make sure it’s somewhere you would genuinely be happy living
Relocation can unlock opportunities but it has to be the right move for you.
Can you consider different types of firms?
If your focus has been on leading national firms, ask yourself:
Could you also consider leading regional or strong local firms?
Some outstanding careers are built outside the big-name firms and often with more responsibility earlier.
Why July matters
Making these decisions now gives you time.
July = action month
August = often slower (holidays, decision-makers away)
If you reset your strategy now, you give yourself a full month to execute a fresh and more focused search. That’s smart planning.
Final thought
Too many trainees wait until September to rethink things. By then, you’re already on the back foot. Use 1st July as your checkpoint. Be honest with yourself, don’t be afraid to adjust the plan.
If anyone would like help or a sounding board, I’m always happy to chat. I’m incredibly passionate about helping young lawyers kick-start their legal careers in the right way.
Jason Nottage
Director
D 01206 326903
