Upskilling: The Importance of Lifelong Learning in Legal Careers
“Moderation is key”
“A jack of all trades is a master of none”
Rolling off the tongues of numerous mentors and educators, these phrases have directed us to take on fewer challenges but to do so with utmost perseverance. Such advice, however, creates a vicious paradox wherein having fewer skills on your repertoire is often the core reason for being left behind by ambitious students and overachievers and overlooked by employers who just cannot seem to have enough.
How then should a law student in a dramatically changing professional world stand out against competing candidates all up for the for limited spots in a summer internship or vacation scheme? The simple answer is a currently popular term referred to as ‘upskilling’.
The collateral damage of the digital revolution continuing even in the midst of a global pandemic is the widening skills gap that has formed in places of employment. This gap refers to a misalignment between the skills possessed by those on the job market and the expectations held by employers.
The most prominent gaps amongst legal professionals can be identified in EQ or emotional quotient and digital literacy. The former stems from the longstanding desire for technical rather than soft skills in legal professions. If asked what it means to ‘think like a lawyer’, most people would endorse a degree of shrewdness, analytical abilities and processing large volumes of information. Strengths like empathy, teamwork, leadership and public speaking which lie at the crux of successful client interactions are not traditionally sought, leading to their underdevelopment in young professionals.
Of course, a student could take matters into their own hands and take on online courses and virtual internships to build such skills and advance their profiles. The abundance of options with the rise of online learning platforms, however, leaves one spoiled for choice and unsure of where to begin.
The solution to this could lie in transforming the way a law education is imparted. Forging a greater academic role for activities typically executed by student law societies such as client interviewing competitions or mock trials may encourage an inculcation of vital skills required in practice. Conducting mandatory seminars that expand on team building, oratory skills as well as the promotion of well-being in university and beyond is likely to foster a community of young lawyers that are more prepared for the rigour of the job on completing their degree. Moreover, lectures that discuss the theory of law in relation to the current political landscapes, such as Warwick University’s Law in Context approach, could help students in determining the economic and real-word impact of policies and thus encouraging critical thinking. Additionally, Linklater’s Virtual Law Internship in UK Commercial Law on Forage (https://careers.linklaters.com/en/early-careers/virtual-internships) is a great option for upcoming and current university students to interpret the inner workings of popular law firms. Navigating the choppy waters of employment would be tricky for any 20 something–the onus is, therefore, partly on educators to better equip them to dive into the deep end and stay afloat.
Working on auxiliary skills paves the way for growing into what HR managers call a T-shaped employee. Like the title implies, a t-shaped employee is one who has tremendous expertise in one specialised area, but also branches out to adopt additional skills at a preliminary or intermediate level. Qualities of such individuals also include an openness to absorb knowledge from on-job training and adapting to the fast-paced growth of their career. The trait of being a lifelong learner and maintaining humility (which ties back to the initial point of emotional intelligence) is imperative to one’s cognitive flexibility or the scope to pick up new talents.
An example of a t-shaped ability, especially in the legal context, is basic digital literacy. Most firms have begun turning to the use of automation and technology for research, contract drafting and other clerical work. Understanding an employer’s expectations in such a case may help students gain valuable tools to stand out and bridge the skills gap. Here, online courses actually assist in acting parallel to one’s legal education. Having an understanding of basic code may help ‘future-proof’ one’s career and safeguard certain jobs from going redundant. My personal recommendations are:
Harvard’s CS50: Introduction to Computer Science (Free on edX):
This is a perfect gateway into the complicated world of coding for absolute beginners and teaches code in an accessible and pragmatic way. Furthermore, it encourages algorithmic thinking which assists in further adaptation to automated legal practices.
King’s College’s short course on Coding for Lawyers (Paid; discounted prices for King’s alumni and students):
Similar to CS50, this course is a paid alternative that is specific to future lawyers. Recommended for students who have completed their first-year, this self-paced course offers the essentials and basics of coding for legal careers.
Link to course: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/short-courses/kings-coding-for-lawyers-2
Vanderbilt University’s Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT (Free on Coursera):
Engineering commands for AI-powered search engines is an invaluable skill applicable to all careers that are likely to undergo automation. Using AI as a tool rather than a replacement is separated by a fine line which this course helps to elucidate.
Link to course: https://shorturl.at/sx167
Entering any competitive field, at the end of the day, comes down to how efficiently you can mould yourself to its advancement. With over 58% of organisations feeling the strain of a skill gap, you are not alone in this journey of upskilling and furthering your profile. Making the best use of available resources is the only one-size fits all solution anyone can offer in order to help you flourish as a student of the times, beyond your law degree–this is fundamental to excelling as a lawyer. I hope that after reading this, when someone circles back to the dated proverb, “A jack of all trades is a master of none”, you can confidently add that it is still better than being a master of one.
This Opinion Piece is written by Inspire Law's Lead Writer, Anoushka Inchpanani. Read more of her pieces on 'The Feed'.
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