How Can You Handle Feedback as a Trainee Solicitor

It is likely you will have worked extremely hard to win a training contract. While securing a training contract is a huge achievement, you will be exposed to a new range of pressures. These can include tight deadlines, high standards and competing client or colleague demands. Inevitably, there will be times where you receive or even seek feedback for your work. Feedback can be both good and bad – yet both are learning experiences. Be it the feedback of colleagues, supervisors or clients – it is important to develop early resilience to know how to use the feedback constructively and improve. The way you address the feedback you get can impact how you develop professionally. We explore some key tips for handling negative feedback from others in a trainee solicitor role.

Is Feedback Important as a Trainee?

Trainee feedback is extremely important.

Here are some key reasons as to why:

• As a trainee solicitor, you’re at a key stage of your professional growth. Feedback is one of the most useful ways to learn and build your legal skills.
• The point of a ‘training contract’ is to be ‘trained’ – so feedback needs to be at the very heart of the role.
• Feedback is a good chance to develop both legal skills but also mental resilience to develop a good work ethic and approach to constructive criticism, e.g. where there is room for improvement.

Key Tips for Handling Feedback

React in a calm and professional manner

It’s okay to feel embarrassed or a bit uncomfortable when you get constructive criticism – particularly when it comes across as harsh and especially when you’ve put a lot of hard work into the task.

For instance – you may have spent hours on drafting a document, only to have a partner add a load of redline or completely redraft most of the document. But remember that this is all normal and because the partner wants to invest in your development and make you a better lawyer.

Try to react with professionalism – thanking the person for the feedback and remaining calm. Go away and then reflect on what you have been told – making notes on the feedback can help you remember and learn from it.

Try too to not be defensive – while it is entirely human to feel like you must defend your actions, remember that you will gain more respect from others by being humble and accepting the feedback you have been offered. That said, if anything feels unclear, ask questions to clarify the issue, e.g. “Can you explain why this was not the approach and how you would suggest I handle this in future?” This is a strong way to show you are eager to learn and grow.

Take action to learn from it

Once you understand the feedback, think about how you will learn from it, e.g.:

• If you’ve been given feedback on improving your attention to detail – can you spend a bit longer proofreading work before you submit it? Or perhaps take a break and come back to the piece of work to give it another read-through with fresh eyes?
• If you are told to be more involved in supporting a project, can you be more proactive and ask team members if they’d like your help or if you can take on certain tasks?

Feedback can be very useful if you truly use it to better yourself as a professional.

Seek feedback yourself to learn even more

Sometimes, feedback isn’t always on the table. For example, partners whom you work under may be extremely busy and not always have the time to offer you feedback.

You may wish to take matters into your own hands, politely asking for feedback after you complete certain tasks to help demonstrate your initiative. After a training seat, seek feedback from your supervisor to see how you can grow in your next rotation. This may also help you gain respect and show how committed you are to your role and bettering yourself – which can be very impressive.

Being kind to yourself when mistakes happen

Don’t beat yourself up over negative feedback. Mistakes are part of the learning process as a trainee, especially in the early stages of your legal career. So don’t let it damage your confidence – rather, see it as a learning curve. Reflect on any such feedback and move forward with confidence, rather than getting bogged down with doubt in your abilities. Always go back to the fact that you are a trainee for a reason and your role is to learn as much as possible, including from setbacks or errors along the road. If you feel down about feedback, confide in people you can trust – it’s okay to feel disappointed, but it’s all a part of the journey and you will appreciate the helpful feedback in the long-term.

Avoid comparison with other trainees

There may be other trainees who are performing well. But try not to compare yourself to others – everyone is learning and not everyone will reveal negative feedback they have received either. All are on their own path in their legal career and yours is not a competition with others. The more feedback you receive, the more chance you have to develop into a skilled solicitor.

Overall, remember that feedback is never personal. You are a trainee to be taught, so that you can use feedback to grow strong skills and succeed as a solicitor. So, treat feedback as a gift and use it to better yourself as far as possible. Go easy on yourself too – training contracts are difficult, and your future self will thank you for the hard work and efforts you put in during these early stages.

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