What Motivates You?

Law students are often asked this question at interview or on application forms for training contracts, pupillage or for vacation schemes. Most students think about the first time they actually thought of studying law or decided their chosen career would be in the legal profession.

Motivation is not however something that starts at one point and keeps going. Many students have a real desire to be a lawyer, there are social, family and financial reasons they want to enter this profession and do well. But… at times they just cannot find the motivation. Life, lockdown and law sometimes get in the way of being motivated to continue on.

Like any other profession where there is a surplus of potential applicants you have to dig deep to find out what will motivate and drive you on.

For me, as I reflect on my legal career, there has always been 5 major influences that drove me on in the difficult times.

1.      My nature/attitude “You can’t stop me”. As a child I hated it when I was told that I couldn’t do something. Career teachers didn’t seem to suggest any good options for me and after lots of research I choose to go off to Lancaster University and study politics, philosophy and history. Three years later, with a politics degree and  some great advice from a friend I choose the legal profession.

At this stage, the mid 1980’s, many law firms preferred to offer training contracts to law graduates. Several law firms suggested I should go back to university and get a law degree! Luckily attitudes have changed and many firm see the benefit on non-law graduates.

The idea that the legal profession was not for someone like me - the girl from a comprehensive school and council estate in Coventry  with a non-law degree was a powerful factor in refusing to stop in my quest to qualify as a solicitor.  My “You can’t stop me” attitude I am proud to say saw me graduate as the first graduate and lawyer in my family but hopefully not the last!

2.      The fear of failure. Somehow I always hated to be last, fail or be the one at the bottom of the class. I didn’t need to be at the top of the class but I really hated being last and this was always a powerful tool to drive me on. This fear drives me to prepare, prepare, prepare! As the saying goes “Fail to prepare and prepare to fail”. I may not have attended every lecture but there is always a point where an internal voice says, “OK Suzanne, get on with it or you WILL FAIL” and I knuckle down and revise and practice. I am not always perfect and yes I do get nervous but I have always prepared to the best of my ability.

3.      The support of good family and friends. Any project, journey or dream is surrounded by the good people you have around you. I have been lucky to have supportive family and friends. I remember my Mother supplied me with cups of tea and cake whilst I was revising in bedroom for my A levels. Friends and family provided words of wisdom when I was a university student. Those friends and family again supplied vital support over my career as I faced the ups and downs of a young ambitious lawyer. To sum up friends and family provided fun, laughter and essential advice key tools on any journey.

4.      Belief. When you are good at something you do and you can see the positive benefits you provide this is such a powerful motivation. I thinks of the clients who were reassured, supported and helped with their litigation cases. I think of the students who have thanked me for my role in their career journeys. When you feel that you are making a difference it is a powerful motivation to further and faster. As a student you may not be able to see what a difference you will make in the legal profession but take a moment and reflect on the qualities that you have and think about how you would engage with clients, witnesses and other professionals!

5.      Finally, reflection on my achievements. On any journey to your dream job, career and lifestyle you have to pause on the way and have a look at how far you have come before you move on.

On these important moments when you feel that you have achieved something “Big” you have to take a moment to enjoy them.

For me, my graduation ceremony was one of those big moments! Seeing my name in a national newspaper having passed my solicitors exams…I am sure I still have that newspaper page somewhere. Escaping from a law firm controlled by a nightmare Partner and bully - some escapes have to be celebrated. All the brilliant occasions when you are moving on and upwards to a new job; celebrated with friends and colleagues as you move to a new stages in your career.

When you take time to reflect on all your achievements you suddenly realised that you have a lot to be thankful for.

So the question is what motivates you? Take a moment, write it down, reflect and then use this to inspire, motivate and energise you to the next level.

Suzanne Reece, The Study Coach

Inspired to Study www.inspiredtostudy.org

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