The Awkward Phase Inbetween Solicitor Training and Qualification – NQ 101!

Hello! I’m Ines Ouadah and I’m a Corporate & Commercial Solicitor.

A Little About Me…

All through my undergraduate degree (I am a GDL-er) and then law school, this was my absolute career dream. The day that I could finally practice in commercial law, and be able to introduce myself as a Corporate & Commercial Solicitor.

A little about “professional” me? Well, I am a massive geek, and enjoy all things figures, negotiations and contracts, so corporate and commercial law always felt right up my street all through university, postgrad law school, and then my training contract (TC). The hours are definitely long, and the pressure is often on, but honestly, I couldn’t have chosen a more rewarding and intellectually stimulating area of law to practice in (I’m also the one most likely to finish the biscuits in the office’s biscuit tin, but shhh…).

A little about “me” me… I love travelling to new places like it’s going out of fashion; baking; my two kittens, Leo and Nina; and telling terrible jokes (!)

The Maze that is the Newly Qualified (NQ) Process…

I was always pretty sure about what steps I needed to follow in the early stages of my legal career, as I had a vast array of materials regarding the TC route to choose from (due to it being very well trodden on social media, at law school and on legal platforms). What I was not expecting, was that weird bit in the middle, that no one really spoke about… the NQ process.

The NQ stage tends to be almost glossed over, in between qualifying and waking up qualified! (Yes, you are pretty much a qualified solicitor overnight, once you get the thumbs up from the SRA, and you are then admitted to the Roll of Solicitors!). So, my job in the following paragraphs is to try and shed a little light of that awkward stage in-between – which, despite being awkward and short, a hell of a lot of work goes on during this period!

The NQ process creeps up, and FAST. Trainees, do future NQ “you” a massive service, and start researching your next steps at the end of seat 2. Realistically, you should start applying for NQ roles around the end of seat 3 (be this at your training firm, or further afield). Don’t leave this until the last minute, as some firms will require you to prepare a business case if staying internally, or you may need go through the whole recruitment process again if you decide to move elsewhere.

Recruiters are very valuable for interview prep tips, market knowledge and for your first steps into the qualified market. Please do not ignore their LinkedIn messages, if you’re one of the lucky few to be messaged directly by them whilst still training. Alternatively, come to a BSG event and meet the lovely people at Robert Walters, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in NQ recruitment and pick their brains about next steps.

LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn! Build your presence and your personal brand online. This is usually the first port of call for internal HR managers and external recruiters once your CV has been shortlisted. Update your picture and post about all the work you’ve been up to. It’s a well-rounded way to easily showcase your skills and work ethic (that can’t necessarily always be gleaned from the restrictive 2-page CV).

Preparation is key. NQ interview processes are tough. Remember that annoying buzzword of “commercial awareness”? Well, this doesn’t stop at TC applications. I’ve been asked about trends in the corporate and commercial market; the impact of inflation and interest rates; how law firms make money; client sector issues (compliance and regulation); and changes in the corporate/commercial legal framework. This isn’t a “due tomorrow, do tomorrow” kind of exercise and you should continue to work on your commercial awareness throughout training.

One to watch – there’s talk in legal circles that competition for NQ roles is about to get very fierce, very soon. It’s argued that the SQE route has merely moved the TC bottleneck up to NQ roles. This is because whilst, yes, it may be “easier” to qualify (due to the elimination of the highly competitive 2-year recognised training period), the question remains: are there/will there be actually enough NQ roles to go around? Can the upcoming qualifiers all be accommodated? As the next generation of upcoming qualifiers, it’s crucial to set yourself apart, starting now.

Salary negotiations – NQ stage may be the first time you experience real conversations about salary. Glassdoor, recruiters and articles will show you what is typical for the area of law you’re qualifying into, as well as the region in which you will be practicing. Note, they all differ. So don’t get caught out and say any random number, when you are asked about salary expectations. Equally, don’t lowball yourself either – simply research it properly; understand your worth; and provide something well informed and justifiable.

Finally, remember to be your genuine and authentic self! Your NQ role isn’t just a “job” or a desperate search for “any” TC any more (not that it ever should have been). The TC “Hunger Games” are behind you now – thankfully! Now, consider where you see yourself long-term, as you build the technical side of your craft. Consider: What kind of work will you be doing? What type of transactions or clients will you be working on/with? Is there a clear promotion trajectory? Is the firm growing? Is there a healthy culture – (very important!)? What is the retention vs attrition rate? These are the kinds of questions you should now be asking yourself.

Best of luck to all of you soon to be former trainees! You’ve all got this. I’ve done it, and you all 100000% can too!