How to Succeed at Articling
(or “How to Not Collapse Before You’re Called to the Bar”)
Author: Anna Cooper
The CDO in coordination with HWSAC organized a panel called “The Articling Process: What Can I Ask For?” Deborah Glatter, Director of Professional Development and Student Programs at Cassels Brock, and Doron Gold, a full-time Staff Clinician at Homewood Human Solutions (the provider of the Ontario legal profession’s new Member Assistance Program), came and answered our toughest questions with a surprising level of candor. What follows is a summary of the critical advice they had to share with us, replete with substantial additions from yours truly.
INSTALLMENT II
Before Articling Begins
Firstly you need to understand that whoever you are now, that is who you will be when you article. Whatever you struggle with, it is coming with you. And likely the stress will make it worse.
Think you have some weaknesses? Worry that there are parts of you that may not thrive within what Doron Gold calls “the articling construct”? Instead of holding your breath and hoping your fears go away, take some time to work on you. Take time to put supports in place. What keeps you calm? What keeps you grounded? How you can build these things up around you before you start articling?
Doron strongly recommended learning mindfulness meditation now. It will lower your anxiety, raise your capacity to deal with stress, increase your productivity and help you sleep. There is so much research on the efficacy of this it is obscene.
Importantly, decide what you are going to do if it does not work out. This is not about giving up before you begin. This is about broadening your perspective before panic sets in. People tend to make better decision when they don’t feel trapped; so sit down and ask yourself the tough questions. If it isn’t working out, what is my plan B? How could I navigate transitioning to another firm? What else could I do with my law degree? How could I manage my debt in a lower paying firm?
Doron added that “those who have less to lose are typically much more compelling.” Knowing what your out is can lend you confidence in advocating for yourself. Desperation is rarely attractive, to you or anyone else.
What should you do if you are struggling on the job? Look forward to Installment III, running tomorrow.
Meeting of the Minds 