Insights

Starting your traineeship is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel a bit overwhelming as you adjust to new responsibilities, expectations, and a fast-paced environment. To help you navigate the early days and set yourself up for success, here are five invaluable tips from current second-year trainee, Sophie Nelson.

1. Get to know your matters

You can never know a matter too well. As a trainee, you’ll often find yourself picking up ongoing cases rather than starting from the beginning. Take time to delve into matters you’re working and read through past correspondence, review the existing documentation, and try to get to know the background.

This extra effort will give you a clearer picture of the broader context surrounding the matter at hand, helping you approach tasks with certainty.  Walking into a meeting armed with this knowledge will give you a confidence boost and allows you to follow conversations more easily. Partners and clients will most likely refer to events that occurred before you joined the team, so having that background information will ensure you have a head start!

2. Start to build your network (business development)

Relationship building is a key part of being a solicitor. Seize every opportunity to attend events, both internally and externally. While it may seem daunting at first, these experiences will prepare you for the future when you’ll be expected to represent the firm at similar events.

Attending events allows you to form connections with clients and other professionals early on in your career. You’ll likely meet some of the same people at different events, and having those familiar faces can strengthen your professional network. Remember, a law firm thrives on its relationships, so the earlier you start building them, the better!

3. Familiarise yourself with general office admin

The more you learn about your firm’s general ‘administration’ tasks, the better. While you might not be expected to handle these often, there will be times when the support staff are unavailable, and knowing how to manage these tasks can make you invaluable.

Tasks like handling mail, transferring calls, booking meeting rooms, uplifting documentation and processing bank transfers might seem trivial, but these skills ensure the office runs smoothly.  A partner may rely on you during these times and your adaptability and organisational skills will be greatly appreciated by your team!

4. Adopt good time management strategies

It is really important to get to know yourself and learn the most effective way of working. Find the strategies that work best for you. For instance, I have sub-folders within my inbox to stay organised and block out time in my calendar to focus on tasks when necessary.

It’s important to remember that while there are some time management strategies which you can carry throughout your traineeship, there are some which may be department specific. For example, in a commercial or corporate department, you may work on one task for a few hours whereas in private client, your day could be filled with a series of smaller tasks. Ensure you are adaptable and always keep a to do list!

5. Communicate effectively

Good communication is essential. As a trainee, you’ll be working closely with clients, support staff, and senior members of your team. Never leave a conversation feeling unsure about what’s been asked of you. If you’re unclear on any instructions, it’s better to ask for clarification upfront than risk making mistakes later.  For example, when given a task, I always clarify the timeline or urgency. 

My final tip for communication is take a notepad or note-taking app wherever you go!

Starting your traineeship is a pivotal moment in your career. By getting to know your matters, networking early, mastering admin tasks, managing your time effectively, and communicating clearly, you’ll position yourself for success. Keep these tips in mind as you embark on your traineeship journey—you’ll thank yourself later!

Applications for our 2026 Traineeship Programme close on Friday, 4 October. Learn more at https://stronachs.com/work-with-us/trainee-solicitors/