Reflecting: An Articling Must

During our articles so far, we have been so busy with new experiences, learning new concepts, research, and deadlines that it is hard to believe we are almost three months in. The time has simply flown by!

I schedule a few minutes into my busy schedule to reflect on my experiences and Milestones.

Articling is the period where you are allowed to learn, explore, ask questions and make mistakes (in drafts only!) It is all part of the learning process. Therefore, it is important to stop, take a breather, and reflect on how far we have already come as articling students.

I personally like to take this breather every two weeks. I schedule a few minutes into my busy schedule to reflect on my experiences over the past 14 days and make a list of my accomplishments and what I have learned.

This list of accomplishments varies week by week and consists of milestones as small as learning what a “proof of loss” document is and why it is a key document in insurance defence, to larger milestones such as being assigned carriage of my first small claims file and drafting my first mediation brief.

These lists are a great tool to measure how far I have come from the first weeks of articling until now. For me, these lists are a proud reminder of how much I have learned about litigation and the practice of law in general so far. They are also great indicators of how my confidence is slowly growing. With each reporting letter and research memo, I can see myself becoming more confident in my research and writing abilities.

It is even interesting to compare a current list from the previous list. You wouldn’t believe how much learning is packed into a short period of time! For example, in the last 14 days, I have had the opportunity to speak directly to clients, draft my first (and second) mediation brief, and how to prepare for my first settlement conference.

I also like to use this exercise to set new goals for myself. I do this by reflecting on assignments and situations that I have found particularly challenging in order to identify areas where I would like to improve. Articling is a learning process and I have learned that it is important to target my own personal weaknesses so that I can set goals for myself.

It is both nerve-wracking and exciting to see what the next seven months have in store for us. Spending some time to reflect on accomplishments, and articling milestones and measuring your success through weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly intervals is a great way to keep tabs on how far you’ve come and how far you have to go. You will be amazed to see how much you have already learned!

Cassandra K.