From diploma to trainee – career break not brake

The road from Diploma to traineeship isn’t always short or straight but, as TC Young solicitor and Scotland hockey play Sarah Jamieson explains in her blog, using the gap between to pursue other interests can have major benefits, both personally and professionally.

It’s safe to say I didn’t take the conventional route from undergrad to traineeship. I finished my LLB in Scots Law with Spanish in 2016 at the University of Dundee and went straight into my Diploma. Like many of my classmates, we knew the Diploma was inevitable and felt it would be best to get stuck in whilst we were used to studying and lectures!

But another field of activity was also competing for my attention. Towards the end of my final year of undergrad, I was invited to join the Scotland Senior Women’s hockey team.

I had a good first summer with the squad, achieving my first caps for Scotland and taking part in several test series, so I felt it was something I wanted to stick with. There were several big tournaments coming up the year after, so it seemed a good option to get the Diploma done whilst also concentrating on my training.

I managed to balance my training and the Diploma well enough that I then made the squad for two major tournaments in Summer 2017 and went on to secure a spot at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Post Diploma, I filled my spare time when not training by coaching hockey at schools and clubs and by doing the odd bit of legal work experience where I was lucky enough to find it! I knew I needed to stay in touch with this as I didn’t want to lose sight of my legal career completely.  

I had an incredible couple of years pursuing hockey to the full, but I still had the nagging realisation that my Diploma would soon be running out and that one day I wouldn’t play hockey anymore. I maintained my hunt for the elusive traineeship during my entire time out. Having no luck during 2018 – with my Diploma valid for just one more year – I took the opportunity to play abroad in Germany, which was an incredible experience.

On my return to Scotland in Summer 2019, after what felt like my 1000^th traineeship application and looking at other legal work opportunities and applying for an extension of my diploma (note that the guidance on Diploma validity has changed since I was in this position), I finally found my traineeship at TC Young Solicitors in Edinburgh. Preparing for the final interview mid European Championships was challenging, and it was a surreal moment after applying for so long, but I finally found a firm that valued my unorthodox experience and saw my potential.

I then had six weeks to prepare myself for the working world. I was extremely nervous, with very little previous office experience and my Diploma a distant memory at that point. I tried to refresh myself by doing some studying, but all that seemed to do was make me realise how much I used to know but no longer remembered!

However, luckily my firm provided the most welcoming, open and understanding environment in which to learn. It was perfect balance of having license to give things a go, whilst also providing guidance. I think the skills that I gained from my time out only helped me to mature and prepare me for the working environment, and I’ve been lucky enough to continue to balance two careers in the law and on the hockey field.

If you are considering time out between Diploma and traineeship then I would suggest going for it! Whatever your traineeship looks like and whichever firm you join, you will be learning from scratch regardless and you will be surprised how quickly you will adapt if you have the right attitude and the willingness to learn and develop.

A few top tips for a getting back into the work environment are:

• Get to know as many people in the office as possible – you never know whose help you may need one day.
• Say yes – to post work events, to marketing events, networking, even to helping someone carry something into another room! Make yourself useful and before you know it you will be a part of the furniture.
• Be patient – you are the least experienced person in the room when you start. Don’t expect yourself to know everything, ask for help and admit when mistakes are made!
• Remind yourself of what you have gained from your time out – whether this was from travelling/working or further studies, you will have learned something from this. Identify what it is and use it towards your traineeship.

There is no one ideal route to becoming a solicitor. If you have the drive and determination, you will get there in the end. Don’t be scared to look for other opportunities first!

Sarah is part of the Scotland squad for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham starting this week.