CharonQC and Binary Law have found another trainee blog. Quite why these trogs are crap whichever firm does them is unclear. This one is not quite so bad as the dismal Watson Farley Williams effort which is a masterclass in how to do it badly (and which is still wheezing along despite the opprobrium heaped on it last year). However, it still lacks any of the useful characteristics of a blog.
Ouch, this trog is truly eye-wateringly bad. Savour this particular offering from the unlucky first seat trainee, Anna Freemantle (sorry Anna)
“Working at Winckworth Sherwood has been both rewarding and fun; there is a very friendly atmosphere within the firm, the hours are sociable and more importantly, I feel that I have had a greater degree of exposure to clients and matters than I believe I would have done within a larger city firm. The first-hand experience that this affords has meant that I have learnt a great deal in a very short space of time, helped by the encouragement and support of the whole litigation team.”
Pass the bucket please, I think I’m going to hurl…
I think the reason that trainee blogs are invariably crap is becuase the writer cannot be honest, indeed is compelled to lie, since their job, future and blog writing position is entirly dependant on them saying nice things about their employers. So these trogs are in fact not blogs at all but marketing produced on the cheap by trainees who ought to be employing their time more usefully actually doing some law.
The trainees are not to blame — and we all know that. Quite what the marketing/management committees of these firms think they are doing by requiring trainees to write in this way — is beyond me.
In my view — a bit unfair — and, for that reason, I am quite content to bring Matt Muttley into the fray. I have absolutely no problem with unsolicited endorsements — because endorsements given freely are usually honest. — but how can a trainee possibly be honest about their experience at a law firm when they do not even know if they are going to be taken on when qualified?
These law firms are serious organisations — with good reputations. I am sure that they mean well — but they need to think very carefully about what they are doing with these trainee blogs.
When a law firm allows a trainee to be frank about their experiences during the training contract — good and bad (and most solicitors will have had good and bad experiences during their training contracts — surely? ) then..these blogs will make sense.
Of course — the possibility exists that these trainees are being totally frank and honest about their experience — and that they cannot find anything negative to report. However — It would be interesting to know what they say when they are in a wine bar or when they post as ‘Garguantuan Litigator’ (etc etc) on RollonFriday.com.
Do law firms really think that law students are stupid?
On a more serious note, whilst there is clearly a contratural duty on firms to provide for the legal education of their trainee, there is, I would veture to suggest, at the very least, a moral obligation on a principal to take care for the overall welfare of their trainee.
It seems to Ruthie that pressures on trainees, finanacial, academic, emotional..are greater than ever. Incredible but true, some trainees might be reluctant to admit that they are having problems for fear of jeopardizing their future employment prospects.
For the purely mercenary there are also good reasons for looking after your trainee. A happy trainee is likely to be a productive one, and in due course a loyal employee.
Therefore Ruthie dares to suggest that firms should encourage trainees to dicuss any problems they may have. As Charon notes, no trainee passes through two years with no problems at all.
The Winckworth Sherwood blog as marketing is counter-productive. Everyone knows that real life is not like that. Trainees are not stupid. Therefore one wonders what they have to hide that they need to try so hard to pretend that everything is wonderful. Chances are nothing…so then, why do it?
What is worse is that the putative blogger is either unlikely to have been a willing volunteer, or possibly — did volunteer without a clue as to what they were doing. Blogs without humour and honesty are just never going to get off the starting blocks. Now if these people hired ME.….….….…
“I think the reason that trainee blogs are invariably crap is becuase the writer cannot be honest, indeed is compelled to lie, since their job, future and blog writing position is entirly dependant on them saying nice things about their employers. So these trogs are in fact not blogs at all but marketing produced on the cheap by trainees who ought to be employing their time more usefully actually doing some law.”
Ruthie’s hit the nail on the head. Whilst the Charons and Geeklawyers of the legal blogging world can anonymously rant about whatever they think, those of us blogging under a corporate identity don’t have that luxury. Or at least we don’t without becoming part of the Roll On Friday weekly news. So you’re unlikely to be seeing IMPACT’s “we’ve had a few bottles of wine Christmas song” video any time soon. I’ve destroyed all copies, you see.
Alex — fair point — but most people on Consilio know I write Charon — and I am quite happy not to be anonymous (Although I deluded myself into believing that MSP and Charon were different for years! — been doing Charon since 2001)
I used to be a regular poster on Roll on Friday and even went to quite a few drinks events — I had another alter ego then — linked to grappa
It was a good video !
Just thought I might pop in at 04.00 hrs to see if I could still count… it seems that I am able to do so.
I have, as it happens, spent a most enjoyable evening discussing many matters — and now… a touch of sleep. Normally I get up at this time. Refreshing to find myself going to bed at this hour… I shall, of course, be up for espressos and the tabloids at 8.000 and have breakfast at a cafe in Chiswick.
geeklawyer: still having a problem solving this…
Fermat’s Last Theorem states that
xn + yn = zn
has no non-zero integer solutions for x, y and z when n > 2
One day I will catch up with you all.… do you numbers people like Carol Vorderman on Countdown?
I wish you well for the weekend… I will, of course, be reflecting and doing my best to ensure that global warming does not cause flooding in West London this weekend.
a piu tarde
I have just noticed that my last post records 05:06:32.… I can’t believe it took me an hour to type my comment.….
Has the government put the clocks forward while I have been out?
It cannot be that Geeklawyer has not dealt with the time settings on his blog. It would be ironic if this is the case…given his proficiency and expertise with blog technology.…
It is, of course, quite possible that geeklawyer is operating one hour ahead of the rest of us — must be quite useful for predicting the results of horse races, cricket, rugby matches etal — but not so convenient when it comes to welcoming the grim reaper.
Well..there we are. yet again… I have managed to blog on someone else’s website and add, not one thing, to the wealth of human knowledge.…
Perhaps I am doomed to have no legacy… but…at least I will not be angst driven about legacy… unlike our Prime Minister…
Hello…hello…hello… sorry to wake you so early Guv… but.… We would like to ask you a few questions about the Knights of Malta, and have a look at your hard drive.…before jack STraw abolishes the House of Lords and we have to change the name of our enquiry to ‘Cash for Senators.”
I love the idea that future members of the ‘second chamber’ will be called ‘senators’.…
Et tu…Geeklawyer?
I’m off now…
Don’t worry, Charon, Fermat’s Last Theorem was solved a good few years ago by a very bright English chap called Andrew Wiles. Just have a flick through his nice, simple solution, and I’m sure all your questions will be answered.
@geeklawyer, that’s a strange limitation. Can you not simply go to Dashboard>Options>Date and Time Section>and offset it so that it falls back in line with UK time?
You are right. The blog operates on accursed continental time & it is outwith my powers to make an adjustment. I have noticed this for a long time and hoped no-one else would. Curses.
This new spam protection is good Geeklawyer — it’s testing my mathematical skills to the extreme!
I had a choice of either a maths test or a spelling test …