Advocacy starts with practice – tips for students

At the start of their careers, it is important for young lawyers not to wait for their first job opening or to receive their license, but to seek out practical experience, network with advocates, and use their studies as an opportunity to make their first professional choices.

This advice was given by advocate Antonina Yarem to students at the National Transport University during a lecture organized by the UNBA NextGen in the Kyiv region. The event was moderated by the Committee’s regional representative Tetyana Kozyan.

A. Yarem identified one of the typical mistakes made by beginners as the expectation that a degree or certificate alone will guarantee clients and a clear career path. After graduation, young lawyers often find themselves in a vicious cycle: without experience, they cannot get hired, and it is impossible to gain experience without a first job. Therefore, it’s worth starting your career path while still in school — through internships, practical training, and networking with colleagues.

The speaker noted that one shouldn’t wait for the «perfect moment» to get started. Instead, you need to establish yourself as a specialist, participate in events, get to know other advocates, and seek opportunities for collaboration. Such contacts can lead to collaboration, the exchange of experiences, or referrals.

Social media can be a tool for showcasing your area of specialization, professional communication, and building trust. At the same time, your profile should highlight your expertise as a lawyer, and real-world examples should be presented while maintaining confidentiality.

Among the challenges faced at the start, A. Yarem cited insecurity, fear of liability, working with first-time clients, finding one’s own style, and the instability of one’s professional status. Fear of liability is natural, as lawyers understand the consequences of their actions for their clients. Preparation, training, and consultations with more experienced colleagues can help alleviate this fear.

According to the speaker, choosing a specialization also comes through practice. Internships and working at a law firm, a legal office, or with an individual advocate allow one to understand which cases are interesting to work on and where it is worth deepening one’s knowledge.

And for faster growth, mentors, a professional network, and the ability to learn from mistakes are crucial. In complex areas of practice, it is safer for a young advocate without practical experience to start working alongside a colleague who knows the procedures from the inside.

During the Q&A session, students asked how to get hired by an advocate or law firm without experience. The speaker replied that it’s important for an employer to see concrete evidence of a candidate’s readiness to work: courses taken, participation in events, the ability to draft documents, and the ability to complete a test assignment.