Dealing with Rejections
- The Legal Scene
- Dec 4, 2020
- 3 min read
Applying to law firms for training contracts and vacation schemes is never an easy process and can be a disheartening one for those faced with multiple rejections. However, don’t let it stop you from pursuing your dreams.
Realign Yourself
You must remind yourself that: “Rejection gives you more power to push on”. As a recent LPC graduate, I’ve experienced my fair share of rejections. In all honesty, I lost motivation and confidence in myself and my ability during my search for a training contract. A lot of us feel like we are experiencing it alone, however, it is important to remember that everyone has experienced rejection and given the unprecedented times, it is likely that many of us will face rejection from job applications.
I remember a couple of weeks ago, I had applied for a few paralegal jobs and training contracts and all in one week, I received about five rejections back to back. It really knocked my confidence. I had never felt so low. I allowed myself to be upset about it as I had spent about two weeks on one application. It took a while to get back up from the rejections, but I had to remind myself of my goals and what I was working towards. I would suggest giving yourself a break and write out what it is you are working towards and where you want to be. I did this and it gave me a push and the motivation to not give up and quit altogether.
Allow Others to be part of the Process
Another thing I would mention is the importance of talking to someone, whether that is your family, friends, university tutor or career advisor. Talking to someone always helps especially if it is someone who has gone through the same process or has knowledge of the legal industry, they may find a way to help you. Although we might feel like we are going through it alone, don’t isolate yourself. Allow others to help you and maybe they might see or notice something that you don’t.
Stay Positive
Don’t give up. Your setbacks are not a reflection of who you are. An important thing to remember is that just because you were rejected from a law firm, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be suited for any other firm or even the one you applied to. Despite facing rejection, we must use our experience and any feedback we get to improve ourselves and our skills. When faced with rejection, see it as a chance to improve yourself for the next time you have an interview. If you have the chance to receive feedback, look at what was said and find ways to improve on it. If the feedback is that you did not have enough knowledge about the firm and the work they do, research the firm thoroughly so that you are prepared for the next time you have an interview.
During the pandemic, many law firms such as Kennedys and Clifford Chance, created virtual work experience for students to learn more out the firms and gain insight into the type of work these firms have to offer. As we are currently in application season, use this opportunity to develop your skills and get to know the firm. Start preparing yourself for applications, for example, I am not that great when it comes to psychometric tests. One thing that I have started doing is researching different types of tests, and practicing them as many times as I can until I feel confident doing them. Find a weakness and work on it. Utilise each experience and push through! Your time will come when you will be able to look back and see how far you’ve come.
By Linsey Fadiga
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