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Question

You are a trainee solicitor in the firm’s corporate team. You currently have a dedicated supervisor with whom you share an office, but other lawyers in the team also often delegate work to trainees. 

Today is Monday. Your supervisor has asked you to draft a lengthy research note, which needs to be sent to a client by close of business on Thursday. The partner who sits in the office next door has also just emailed you asking you to review 30 commercial contracts as part of an ongoing due diligence exercise. She wants your feedback by Friday afternoon at the latest. Moreover, the newly qualified lawyer that also sits in your office has asked you to draft 15 stock transfer forms “at some point this week”.

You believe you can just about get through all these tasks by the relevant deadlines, but you will be under some pressure. However, a senior associate from across the hall then asks if you can project manage the signing process for dozens of documents in connection with a deal that is scheduled to close on Wednesday evening. He also mentions that there might be a few additional urgent tasks that need to be completed before the Wednesday closing. In light of this additional task, you feel that you’re now at risk of missing one or more of the deadlines. 

In light of the above can you please explain:

Answer

Before confirming that I could complete any of the tasks within the deadlines, I would briefly review all the outstanding tasks and try to estimate how long each will likely take to complete. This would help me to ascertain which specific deadlines I am at risk of missing, if any.

If it looks like I would be unable to meet all the deadlines (even if I was prepared to work late throughout the week), I would then communicate the situation to my supervisor, the partner, the newly qualified lawyer and the senior associate. I would do so in person or on the phone if possible, to avoid the risk of someone missing an email and still expecting me to deliver the relevant work on time.

In particular, I would clearly and concisely explain to each supervisor which other tasks and deadlines I am facing, tell them which other lawyers had set me the tasks, and highlight the risk that I would be unable to complete all the tasks by the respective deadlines (especially if further urgent tasks came up for the senior associate before the closing of the deal on Wednesday). I would then set out the amount of time I believe I would need to complete each of the outstanding tasks, and ask whether there is any flexibility with the deadlines each supervisor has set. 

I would take this approach as I believe that by involving my supervisors in the decision-making process, I would be less likely to cause knock-on delays and let anyone down (including the clients). As a junior, I wouldn’t be best placed to unilaterally determine which deadline to miss, as I might be unaware of what has been promised to clients and how my work fits into the bigger picture. Each supervisor also probably wouldn’t have much oversight over my broader workload, so might have no way of knowing that there was a risk that I wouldn’t meet their deadline. Communication is key.

Assuming there was some flexibility from one or two of the supervisors, I would then re-prioritise my tasks depending on each supervisor’s response. More specifically, I would carve out time in my calendar to ensure all tasks would be completed based on the adjusted set of deadlines, and maintain a high level to-do list to keep track of outstanding tasks and any further tasks that come in. 

I would continue to communicate regularly with each supervisor whilst working on the tasks, to alleviate any concerns that I might miss any adjusted deadlines. I would also continue to monitor and respond to other emails and requests for support, but make it clear to anyone else that sets me work that I have to prioritise my existing responsibilities in the short-term.

In this scenario, I would draw upon a number of personal strengths. For example, I would draw on my communication and interpersonal skills when liaising clearly with (and remaining responsive to) various supervisors about my tasks and deadlines. I would rely on my time management skills, adaptability and flexibility when reorganising my schedule in light of shifting deadlines and priorities. I would draw upon my resilience and composure to remain calm and enthusiastic whilst under increasing pressure as the various deadlines approach. And I would utilise my attention to detail and analytical skills when carrying out the actual work.

I would feel energised by the pressure to deliver potentially unfamiliar and intellectually challenging work, in the knowledge that successfully navigating these challenges would contribute towards my learning and professional development, as well as the broader objectives of other internal teams and the clients.

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