Career Progression Moving from trainee to assistant to partner
Paula Skinner Partner 25 May 2012
Me! /Background /Career history /Personal transition /Areas considered during appraisals /Your career progression /What makes a good lawyer? –Historically –2012 /What I have learned at each stage? /Top tips!
Career history /Strathclyde University /The Glasgow Graduate School of Law /Dundas & Wilson - trainee /McClure Naismith - assistant /Scottish Enterprise Investment Team /Sigma Technology /Harper Macleod LLP /Course Co-ordinator - Company Law/Diploma in Legal Practice
Personal transition at Harper Macleod /Assistant – January 2005 /Associate – September 2006 /Partner – April 2011
Your career progression /Trainee /Assistant /Associate /Partner
Areas considered /Client relationships /Technical legal knowledge and business skills /Training, development and reviews /Teamwork /Financial performance /Improvement and innovation /Business development
Trainee /Strong commitment /Professional and polite /Knowledge of law and willingness to learn /Communicates clearly /Plans workload /Punctual /Willing to adapt /Comes prepared for meetings
Assistant /Understands client’s business /Appreciates how important relationships are /Attends client events /Adheres to firm policies and systems /Ability to work in a team /Takes full responsibility for own behaviour and performance
Assistant continued /Suggests topics for training /Able to recognise and admit mistakes /Contributes to group discussions /Assists in estimating client costs /Delivers client service cost effectively /Aware of firm’s wider client offering /Involved in press articles, bulletins
Associate /Takes client instructions /Gives “added value” advice /Can undertake competent work without supervision /Can suggest improvements to systems /Fixes mistakes /Leads training sessions /Conducts appraisals /Appreciates and acknowledges success of offers
Associate continued /Can set meeting agenda and manage meetings /Understands important of targets /Maximises billing opportunities /Complies with Solicitors’ Accounts Rules /Pursues client opportunities /Develops proposals for future business opportunities /Networks
Partner /Lead advisor /Ensures others are building relationships at right level /Works in partnership with clients /Developed reputation in legal market as having good legal skills /Well developed variety of interpersonal skills /Manages others /Ensures clear objectives for team /Contributes to ensuring team targets are met
Partner continued /Responsible for risk and quality of own work and team /Puts client and others at ease in social settings /Introduces additional work /Contributes to tenders /Ambassador for firm /Cross sell across firm
/Intelligence /Dedication/focus /Attention to detail /Argumentative? /Confidence / Ability to deal with stress / Good negotiator / Experience / Accept limited responsibility at start / Leadership What makes a good lawyer? Historically
What makes a good lawyer? 2012 /Personable /Persistent /Innovative /Empathy /Attentive /Prompt at returning calls /Adaptable /Relationship focussed /Practical /Creativity /Problem solving ability /Understand client’s needs and affairs
Qualities that make you a better person in life generally! Attitude makes all the difference!
What have I learned at each stage?
Top Tips /Speak to others within department /Ensure comfortable with systems /Familiarise self with research tools /Be aware of firm generally /Save good styles /Attend training and social events /Diarise properly /Be realistic about deadlines /Speak up (within reason!)
Contact Paula Skinner Partner 25 May 2012 t/ e/