So … Now You’re a Qualified Lawyer. What Next?
Making the Leap: From Trainee to Associate
Congratulations! You’ve crossed the finish line of your traineeship and emerged as a freshly minted associate. Feeling a mix of excitement and nerves is perfectly normal – it’s a rite of passage.
Reflecting on my early days as an associate, there are countless things I wish I had known, such as:
- What does it take to move from being a trainee to a full-fledged associate?
- How do you navigate legal practice while keeping your sanity intact?
- How do you even know if you’re cut out to be a lawyer?
I’ve gathered insights from five seasoned lawyers who have been there, done that, and have the battle scars to prove it. Their advice will help you hit the ground running and offer some much-needed perspective – whether you’re already knee-deep in case files or still starry-eyed and blissfully unaware of what’s to come.
As you read this, remember that no one path is the same for everyone. But as someone who was once a newly qualified lawyer (like you), I can assure you: no matter what happens along the way, you are going to be alright.
1. The Transition: Three Key Shifts from Trainee to Associate
First, as an associate you now have to get used to tracking and keying in your billable hours. This can feel daunting at first, but it’s a critical part of your role.
Speak with your supervising partner and senior associates to understand the expectations, as these can vary widely between firms and even within teams. Be mindful not to overestimate your billable hours – this can lead to issues down the line. For some firms, it might mean preventing other lawyers from keying in their time. As such, aligning your approach with your teammates is crucial. For instance, do you log the 16 minutes you spent in the shower thinking about case submissions? Or how do you handle rounding your time when working on an M&A deal with a fee cap? These are practical, day-to-day questions that require clarity.
By understanding and adhering to your firm’s practices, you can ensure you are accurately reflecting your work while maintaining professional integrity.
Second, a smooth transition lies in shifting from an agent’s mentality to an owner’s mentality.
Rachel Eng, Managing Partner of Eng & Co says, “Instead of waiting for instructions, exhibit initiative and ownership. This includes delivering quality work, updating partners on client matters, keeping deadlines, and preparing invoices. By taking ownership, associates become invaluable to their supervising partners.”
There are no stupid questions. This is literally the best time to take on a beginner’s mindset – because guess what? You are one!
Fatim Jumabhoy, Managing Partner of Herbert Smith Freehills Singapore shares, “Do your research, read around the matter at hand, and always try to think through the issues first – but if you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to ask. Secondly, invest time in really understanding your firm and your practice. As a trainee, your focus was on doing the work set for you by others. Now, it’s time to think about how you can add value to a matter. Don’t be afraid to express views and opinions and get involved.”
Third, be confident, but don’t overdo it.
Lok Vi Ming, SC of LVM Law Chambers emphasises that there is a difference between confidence and cockiness. “The trainee needs loads of confidence because there is a big difference between doing a piece of research and hoping the boss likes it and signing off on an opinion and taking responsibility for it. The trainee also needs to recognise the need for humility, patience, and resilience, to continue to learn and to respect his opponent. We need to help him/her find a good balance between the two.”
2. How Do You Know if a Career in Legal Practice is Right for You?
As you embark on your journey, you will have doubts, fears and insecurities. You will wonder whether you are cut out for this. And like many who have come before you, you might think of quitting law altogether.
Rachel Eng believes that a love for helping clients and finding joy in completing tasks well are indicators that legal practice is for you. “If you feel happy when clients are happy with your service, then law practice is for you.”
Lok Vi Ming adds that getting inspiration from role models in the profession, a love for the English language, and a passion for problem-solving are good signs to indicate that you are well suited for a career in legal practice.
There is one crucial element that law school rarely teaches: Business development. Whether you enjoy building relationships with clients and winning work will determine to a large degree whether you will succeed in the long run in practice.
As a junior lawyer, how can you start building a foundation to do business development in the future?
Fatim Jumabhoy shares, “To succeed in legal practice, you also need to be well-rounded and client-oriented. You need to be commercial minded – everyone around you is likely to be technically excellent, but can you translate the academic and apply it in a way that helps your client to solve their problem? Can you build relationships such that clients want to work with you? Increasingly, how you market and position yourself is important – enjoying (or at least being open to doing) business development is an important factor in career success.”
3. Long Hours: Challenge or Opportunity?
Ah, the infamous long hours. Ramesh Selvaraj, Partner of Allen & Gledhill offers a philosophical take: “Finding passion and purpose in your work can make the hours feel shorter and your career that much more rewarding.”
As a junior lawyer, this is an invaluable time to accumulate experience.
From my experience as a recruiter, I’ve witnessed how associates who invest in learning during their early years set themselves up for significant opportunities down the line. It’s challenging but crucial; after all, they call it legal “practice” for a reason – it’s where mastery is honed.
It is important to recognise that not every law firm or practice area has the same demands on hours. Transitioning to a non-transactional practice could offer a more sustainable path. Alternatively, joining a smaller law firm with a lighter caseload might prove more suitable.
Fatim Jumabhoy acknowledges that long hours are hard to avoid in any professional career, not just in law. “Only you know what the right balance is for you, and that might change at different stages of your career. There is, however, much more flexibility now that remote and agile working are established working practices. As someone clever once said, ‘The only place where success comes before hard work is in the dictionary.'”
4. How Do You Keep Up with the Winds of Change?
“What you are doing now may not be exactly what you’ll be doing in five years’ time.”, says Susan de Silva, Life Coach and Founding Partner of Bird & Bird ATMD. She suggests adopting a “future-focused” approach by cultivating “T”-shaped knowledge.
“Aim to develop deep expertise in your main practice area while also building a good working knowledge of other areas of law or industries.” This breadth of knowledge can help you pivot when needed and stay relevant in a changing legal environment.
Susan illustrates, “Corporate M&A was my main area of practice for many years. My horizontals were Environmental law and Employment law. Eventually, I chose Employment law as the vertical of my T, and within that, a sub-specialty in labour law relating to trade unions.”
“Keep your eye on the horizon for what’s there. Be curious about noticing what’s going on in legal practice beyond Singapore and beyond legal practice. If you sense something is shaping up and it resonates for you, follow it and explore how you can develop more knowledge about it (consider technical as well as legal knowledge) and how you might bring that to your practice as a lawyer one day.”
Susan goes on to share “For example, one ‘horizon’ thing was the first Conference of Parties (COP1) on climate change back in 1994, which prompted me to find out more about Environmental law. It became a fulfilling and interesting technical practice area that complemented the Corporate M&A projects I worked on and expanded into the Environmental sustainability and technology space.”
5. Mentorship and Networking: Keys to Success
Building a network of mentors and peers is crucial for long-term success in the legal profession. And is also great for your mental well-being – to know that you can fall back on your community or “board of advisers” when you need to is invaluable.
Lok Vi Ming’s word of advice on this, “Crucial skill(s) for a long and career and contentment in it: resilience and reality. They translate to hard work and knowing that there will be ups and downs in our career; good days, good cases, good clients; and not so good ones. When things are going great, be contented, be humble, be generous, get an omakase. If things are not so great, hang in there, don’t be too hard on yourself, work out a way out with people you can count on, draw on your friendships and goodwill you have generated when things were good for you.”
Networking starts with building relationships within your firm. Attending industry events, joining professional associations, and participating in legal forums can expand your network and open doors to new opportunities.
Ramesh Selvaraj emphasises the value of strong relationships with mentors. He has advised associates to “Embrace every learning opportunity, ask insightful questions and build strong, meaningful relationships with your mentor.”
Fatim Jumabhoy also highlights the importance of relationships: “Get to know your peers – both in your firm and outside. Understand what other lawyers in your firm do and where there may be potential overlap. Investing in relationships helps you navigate the twists and turns of legal practice, and many of your peers now may end up being potential clients in the future.”
Conclusion
Having advised hundreds of lawyers on their careers, I’ve come to realise there’s one inevitable truth: You have to play to your strengths. Don’t try to be someone else. Sure, you can emulate and be inspired. But know this – there’s only one you, and you have everything you need within you to do what you’re meant to do.
Go forth, be your unique self and support your peers on their journey. They, too, are as uncertain as you are – just that some are better at masking it. Vulnerability, authenticity and asking for help are all superpowers. Use them. And in moments when you feel like giving up, come back and read this article.
Seek help. You are not alone. You will only get better with each setback, each lesson. Remember: you either win or you learn.
Ultimately, the most successful lawyers are those who find purpose in their work. They don’t just see their roles as jobs but as vocations that can make a real difference in people’s lives. When you are driven by purpose, the long hours and inevitable setbacks become stepping stones rather than obstacles.
Being purpose driven, your legal career can be not only successful but also deeply fulfilling.
In the words of the legendary lawyer Thurgood Marshall, “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
The world awaits you, young one. This is your moment to leave your mark.
Note: Identifying your strengths can be challenging if you are unsure what they are. I recommend the Gallup StrengthsFinder test, which is a valuable tool for uncovering your core competencies. Another useful and free option is the DISC Personality Test, which can provide insights into your behavioural traits.
To foster ongoing development and community support, I plan to organise regular gatherings (both online and in person) for senior lawyers to engage with junior lawyers. If you’re interested in participating, please connect with me on LinkedIn. This initiative aims to create a supportive network where you can share experiences, gain advice, and build lasting professional relationships.
