Law-yer up! How to be a confident summer law student

Confidence is a vital trait for any lawyer. It shapes how they present themselves, argue cases, and interact with clients and colleagues. For a summer law student, developing confidence is crucial as it lays the foundation for a successful legal career. This article reflects on how to manifest and nurture confidence during a summer law student position.

Embracing self-honesty: keeping it real

The first step in manifesting confidence is embracing self-honesty. This means recognizing what you know and what you don’t. Understanding your strengths and areas for improvement allows you to set realistic goals and seek the necessary resources to grow. It’s about acknowledging what you can do well and identifying what you are still learning. This self-awareness helps you approach tasks with a clear mind, ready to learn and improve. Being honest with yourself fosters a growth mindset, which is essential for building confidence.

Confidence through constant practice: Reps, Reps, Reps

Confidence doesn’t appear overnight; it grows out of constant practice. Taking on tasks you’ve never tried before is a key part of building confidence. There are several reasons behind this. First, no surprise here — the more you do, the more you learn, and the better you can perform next time. Each new task is a learning opportunity, and with each success, your confidence builds. Second, as the cherry on top, even if you don’t initially know how to handle a task, navigating through it by finding precedents or consulting colleagues boosts your confidence. It demonstrates your ability to find solutions and complete tasks.

Tackling new challenges can be exciting because they are opportunities to learn and grow. The thrill of facing something new and the satisfaction of successfully completing it contribute to a growing sense of confidence. It’s like leveling up in a game — the more quests you conquer, the stronger you become.

Aligning expectations and reality: When worlds collide

What truly boosts confidence is not just positive feedback but the sense that your self-assessment aligns with your colleagues’ evaluations. When you believe you’ve done well and receive confirmation from others, it validates your self-confidence. This alignment between self-assessment and external feedback is crucial. It shows that your understanding of what constitutes good work matches the firm’s expectations.

Of course, there are times when expectations don’t naturally align. Communication is key in these situations. Engaging in open and honest discussions about the work helps bridge any gaps in understanding and expectations. It ensures that you are on the right track and meeting the firm’s standards while also maintaining your confidence.

Conclusion: A journey of growth and learning

Building confidence as a summer law student is a journey of self-awareness, practice, and open communication. By being honest with yourself, embracing new challenges, and valuing feedback, you are continuously growing and becoming more confident in your abilities. This confidence not only helps you perform better but also prepares you for a successful career in law. Confidence is not a destination but a continuous journey of growth and learning, and you are invited to enjoy every step of the way.

So, law-yer up and embrace the adventure!

Anna Wang is a law student at the Western University Faculty of Law, and completed her summer law student term at Harrison Pensa LLP.

Image credit: ©Olivier Le Moal – stock.adobe.com