Dear Rookie Advocate,
You too have a story to share. I can count the number of times I’ve asked an advocate of less than 5 years at the Bar for an article for this blog, and their response was ‘I’m also a Rookie, what advice can I give?’
This blog was birthed from the strong belief that at whatever stage of life or practice one is at, they have a story to share. If you’re newly admitted to the Bar, you have experience you can share with someone just studying for the Bar exam. And if you’ve practised for a year or two, you too have some insights that may be useful for someone at a younger Bar-age than yourself.
Most times articles have been shared, we’ve received feedback even from those much older at the Bar, despite the advice having been given by a younger advocate. You’ve encountered bosses, opposing Counsel, Judges, clients, cases by virtue of your job, that the rest of us haven’t. You may have learnt something on your first day at work that I haven’t in my time in practice because I haven’t worked at the bar, or in the energy sector like you have.
You have attracted to yourself the kind of mentors I will never encounter because I’m in a different field, or I’m a different person altogether. You have attended conferences and trainings others haven’t. You have a story to share.
Above is an excerpt from Sheryl Sandberg’s ‘Lean In’. She puts it so aptly how mentorship can be horizontal and need not only be vertical.
I have a lot of people from my Bar-exam class on whom I call to aid with situations because I know chances are high they’ve dealt with those situations previously.
Here at Dear Rookie Advocate, we are passionate about sharing lessons from the things we have experienced thus far. It is our hope that many more people will come forth and share their stories, their lessons. We also like to take the approach of ‘what would you say to a younger you just getting admitted to the Bar?’
We look forward to sharing your experiences on our blog.
Cheers,
Fellow Rookie.
