Don’t worry—I’m not about to announce that you’ll have to undergo dozens of interviews to be selected as an articling student!
However, the tête-à-tête that we’ll soon be having will only be a prelude to your professional life. Throughout your career, you’ll constantly have to meet new people and quickly develop connections with them.
All lawyers remember the first time that, as articling students, they heard a supervisor say, “Get ready. I have an appointment with a client this afternoon and you’re coming with me.” This announcement can trigger mixed feelings. On the one hand, a student may think, “Great! This is a step forward: they’re treating me like a professional!” But on the other hand, they may wonder, “Will I be able to meet everybody’s expectations?”
Have no fear. A smart supervisor will never put excessive pressure on your shoulders for your first meeting with a client. Forget the nightmarish scenario where, after a few minutes, you’re asked if the business should be transferred by way of a sale of assets or a sale of shares!
However, your supervisor will definitely want to see how you behave during this first meeting. Are you open-minded? Do you avoid making contact or do you seek too much attention? Do you insist on speaking even though you don’t have a clear idea to bring to the table? Are your responses brief, witty or amusing? Can you adapt to the context if the meeting is tense or relaxed? Can you be a good judge of character and adjust your personality to suit the client’s needs?
These issues will be present in all meetings that you’ll attend over the course of your career. When we interview you, adaptability is what we’ll be looking for. Focus on the moment, on the person in front of you. Keep in mind that you and I both have the same goal: for our interview to lead us towards a happy and productive relationship!
Geneviève Goulet is a business and corporate law expert. She has been the head of our Recruitment Committee for several years.