Trainee blog - Lucy Deakin

Lucy Deakin is a first-year trainee at Brodies LLP. Lucy completed both her undergraduate degree and Diploma at the University of Glasgow, spending her third year studying at Ghent University in Belgium. She is currently six months into her first seat in the Corporate department at Brodies’ Edinburgh office. Lucy is due to qualify as a solicitor in July 2018.

What to expect from your quarterly reviews as a trainee

As a trainee, it’s a PEAT 2 (Professional Education and Training) requirement that quarterly reviews are held. This means eight reviews throughout the two-year traineeship.

This may sound daunting, and before starting my traineeship the thought of being continuously reviewed made me slightly nervous! However, the review process is an extremely positive aspect of the traineeship and is almost certain to result in personal as well as professional development.

Having been a trainee at Brodies for almost six months now, I have had my first review and I am just beginning to prepare for my second. While I’m in the review mindset, I thought it would be useful to explain the review process and to share what I have learnt from it so far (ask me again after review number eight!).

The review

Each firm will have a different review process for trainees. Typically, there are two stages to the review: the review form and the face-to-face review with your supervisor. Both stages are designed to enable you to demonstrate certain competencies. At Brodies, you are evaluated under the following headings:

• conduct and communication skills
• professional ethics and standards
• applied knowledge
• commercial and profit focus
• self-motivated and driven
• prepared, organised and able to prioritise effectively

At the face-to-face review, it’s your job to demonstrate to your reviewer that you have developed these competencies. It may be a surprise to hear that you should be doing around 80% of the talking. But don’t worry, this isn’t an interview – you already have the job! Plus, you will have done all of the thinking beforehand by completing the review form.

Your reviewer will then feed back to you on each competency and will decide whether you are progressing above, at, or below standard. This isn’t as scary as it sounds and it is probably better to think of it as an informal chat with your supervisor about your progress.

Tips for the review process

Bear the competencies in mind from day one. This will make filling in the review form a lot easier and much less time-consuming. I have found that keeping a personal log of the tasks you have been involved in is extremely helpful when it comes to reflecting on how each has helped to build your skills.

Preparation is key. Many firms will look at all of your review forms when considering your application for internal NQ positions, so it should be well written and thought out. Make sure that the form reflects everything you have been involved with, and always incorporate any positive feedback that you have received.

What do you want to get out of your traineeship? Set yourself objectives and aim to achieve these by your next review. You may want to push yourself out of your comfort zone, eg by presenting to your department on a recent legal development, or you may want to develop day-to-day skills, eg by keeping a daily ‘to-do’ list. Not only will this ensure that you achieve your goals but it is also likely to impress your reviewer.

Get involved at every opportunity. Whether by joining sports teams and committees or being proactive in getting as much experience in your department as possible, no task is too small and it all helps you develop the skills you need to become a qualified solicitor.