James Harrington on LinkedIn: #law #lawyers #happiness #goals #younglawyers #lawstudents (2025)

Every Law Student/ Junior Advocate is an acorn from which a tall oak tree can grow by his/her own natural process. No mentoring is needed. No training is needed. No special lift is needed. No special gift is needed. Like every oak tree he/she grows tall by his/her inbuilt natural process. All that is needed is to REMOVE some obstacles which may be preventing this acorn from becoming a tall oak tree.The obstacles may be like a hostile soil, lack of water supply or lack of sunshine..... Obstacles may also be like, one may have been born in a small village. One may been a first generation lawyer with no background. One may have been born in a poor family which may have constraints for paying fees of law college. How these obstacles can be removed? Come with me in a jungle and let us ask an oak tree, how it removed it's obstacles. It may give us some guidance.It may reply thus, 1) "Inspite of my hostile soil, I digged my roots deep in the soil so that I could reach near water drops.2) When there were clouds, I waited patiently for sunshine. Whenever sunshine was available, I used my every minute to grow as much as I could.3) I constantly tried to lift myself up by observing other tall trees near me."Even if these replies may not help us in our present realities, they can still show us the way.Now, have you heard about former Supreme Court Judge, Justice C. K Thakkar ji was born in a village where there were not even a primary school. And yet he removed all his obstacles. And have you heard about former Chief Justice of India, Justice S. H. Kapadiaji. His family was poor. He worked as a page boy and from his salary of a page boy he supported his family and also paid his education fees. He removed his obstacles.And have you heard about a Bombay High Court Judge who was a cobbler who used to sit on a footpath and used to polish the boots of pedestrians. He too removed his obstacles. (I do not remember his name).If you need more motivation, there is also a book called, "Obstacles is the way".Survey your obstacles and make a decision to overcome your obstacles.Today is a great day for making this decision.#CJI #supremecourtofindia #lawstudents #law #careers #lawyers #lawyerslife , Vaibhav Agarwal , Advocate Honourable Supreme Court of India , Partner Agarwal Law Associates, Legal Counsel V&E Consulting Worldwide

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Some of my best times at the criminal bar were when I was clerked by a woman: she “got me”, and “it”! This was even before I had children to be fair.How barristers manage that important clerking relationship is up to us. Having positive communication between clerks and counsel is absolutely imperative for a successful career at the bar. Those experiences, along with many others, I draw upon in my book, "Raising the Bar" and put them to good use in my online course, Return & Rise™, all about navigating a successful career break return. So if either of those resources sounds like they could be of assistance, given my experiences both at the criminal bar and indeed as a coach for lawyers, then please do drop me a line.You can find out more about Return & Rise™ here: https://snip.ly/h46qa2And buy my book from Amazon here: https://snip.ly/0ou9qv#Return&Rise #ReturnandRise #communication #careerbreakreturn #maternityreturn #RaisingTheBar #coachingforlawyers #femalelawyers #womeninlaw #barristers #clerks #barristersclerks #legalprofessionals

As I reflect on my journey, I realize how unpredictable life can be. I completed my law degree in 2020, determined from the 3rd year that my path lay in the judiciary. My goal was clear: to become a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC). But life had other plans. Due to personal, health, and family issues, I couldn’t achieve my dream despite my best efforts.Teaching was never something I envisioned, but life took me in that direction. I began lecturing students preparing for CLAT and AILET, and found fulfillment in helping others build their legal futures. Yet, like many, I faced moments of self-doubt, wondering if all the hard work was leading me where I truly wanted to go. Sometimes I ask myself- "Did I really study so much to end up here?"Life doesn’t always unfold the way we plan, and it can be difficult when challenges beyond our control arise. I tried everything I could to pursue my original dream, but my health made it difficult to stay the course. Still, every obstacle taught me something new and reshaped my path.To anyone feeling disheartened by setbacks—whether personal or professional—remember, your journey is your own, and every step, no matter how difficult, is a step forward. Keep pushing, keep growing, and trust that even when the road changes, you have the strength to adapt and thrive.#LegalJourney #Resilience #KeepGoing #CareerChallenges #StayStrong #struggles #positivity #lawyer #advocate #courts #law

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It was a pleasure talking to students from Hove Park School this morning about my current progression into the legal profession. When I attended the Big Futures Show earlier in the year, I asked students what first comes to mind when they think about a career in law. The top two answers were either ‘being a criminal barrister at trial’ or ‘being like Harvey from Suits’. Hopefully speaking to students today, Matt Parr TEP, Angie Dodsworth and I were able to give them an insight into just how varied a legal career can be. #MWB #Legalprofession #Law #BrightonandHove

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Law students, the way you talk to yourself says a lot about you. Positive self-talk leads to positive thoughts about yourself:—I failed ➡️ I learned—I’m drained ➡️ I’m ready to recharge it up—I didn’t get [thing] ➡️ I’ve got more time to get [thing]—I have to ➡️ I choose to—I hate [thing] ➡️ I prefer [other thing]—I got rejected ➡️ I got redirected—I’m lost ➡️ I’m searching —I’m confused ➡️ I need to gather more information —I’m scared ➡️ I’m uncomfortable —I’m angry ➡️ I care about —I quit ➡️ I pivoted —I’m emotional ➡️ I’m passionate—I’m overwhelmed ➡️ I need to set priorities Which reframes resonate most with you? #lawstudent #lawstudents #lawschool

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This is how I feel tonight. I had such a lovely first meeting with a new mentee. She is intelligent, personable, ambitious, and articulate. She has a first class law degree. Despite this, she has been made to feel like there is little hope of a career at the Bar because her university was ex-polytech (such institutions having been given full university status over 30 years ago) and that it will be hard enough to go into commercial or chancery law because she is a woman. I have previously put posts up encouraging barristers not to speak this way to Bar students/perspective barristers, to understand that there is a whole Bar outside of their own experiences, and whilst we need to be realistic, accept there are things you might not know or are limited to your own experiences.At this point I just say "stop it". Stop making people feel bad about their route and things outside of their control. Stop presuming that your path is the only way. Essentially adopt the old saying so often said by parents: if you can't say anything nice ...#barristers #lawyers #lawstudents #studentsoflinkedin #solicitors

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I feel like a hypocrite posting this……only because when it comes to having “aggressive patience,” that’s a work in progress for me too. But I still stand by my advice here: • only compete with your past self (no one else)• be strict about reaching your goals but flexible about the path to them (i.e. Andy Frisella’s “aggressive patience”) • be kind and be respectful That’s it. That’s the post. #lawyers #lawstudents #lawschool #attorneys

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Law students,If you’re not using LinkedIn for networking, you’re leaving easy money on the table.The people who post on LinkedIn are usually wanting and ready to help. Yesterday, a law student reached out to me. They want to be a public defender. We discussed what states they wanted to live in after graduation. Tennessee is on their list. Today, they have two direct contacts who are public defenders in Tennessee - they have now gained entry to the hidden job market.Make a plan and execute it.#lawstudents

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Yes intellectual rigour is important for law but so is the ability to work hard. Anyone with a first class degree, no matter the institution has demonstrated that quality. Group think and the assumption there is only one route in life (the one you took) means we often lack diversity in law, which makes us all the poorer for turning down candidates who clearly deserve a chance and who would make excellent lawyers. So at your next round of interviewing commit to seeing the candidates who did not follow the traditional path, who maybe went to a state comprehensive, and a less than stellar university - you may find that their grit and determination demonstrated through their ability to face down challenges and succeed means they ultimately end up a much better lawyer than the privately/ grammar educated, Russell Group candidate you may usually interview. #socialmobility #mentoring #diversity IBB Law

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