Alumna Rachel Houseago (MA in Middle East & Islamic Studies, 2017)
Catching up with alumna Rachel Houseago
Alumna Rachel Houseago (MA in Middle East & Islamic Studies, 2017) runs her own business coaching international lawyers with English as a second language, to help them communicate effectively with clients and secure future career opportunities by improving their English communication skills. Rachel also runs online legal English communication courses and is publishing a book on how to build rapport with clients when English is not your first language. Here she shares her career insights.
"In 2020, I started my coaching business for lawyers with English as a second language. My clients are practising lawyers - from trainees through to managing partners – from across Europe, the Middle East and South America. Essentially, I help lawyers to effectively negotiate, present, network, speak up in meetings and better communicate with their English-speaking clients. It’s hard enough being a lawyer, let alone doing it in your second language!
"I figured that, rather than write about my own meandering career path, sharing some of the insights I have gained from working with truly outstanding international lawyers would be of more value to Exeter’s law alumni. So here are four of the lessons I have learnt from working with legal professionals:
1. Climbing the ladder is about more than your CV
One great thing about coaching lawyers is that I am privy to some really good gossip. I’ve had more than one partner confess to me that their firm has kept on an ostensibly ‘bad’ lawyer because this person was great with the clients. Interpersonal skills, such as making a client feel heard; using tactical empathy in a negotiation; or being able to make small talk with anyone will set you apart, especially at the more junior level. If you can demonstrate great communication skills in your job interview, you’re also much more likely to get your foot in the door in the first place.
2. Your biggest problem will not be the wording of a contract
Before I launched my coaching business, I spoke to over two hundred practising lawyers and law students: there was a notable difference in what graduates and seasoned professionals perceived to be their biggest challenge. Whilst graduates wanted help deciphering legalese and the technicalities of drafting a contract, practising lawyers with ten or even twenty years’ experience were more concerned with actually being able to speak to – and build rapport with – foreign clients.
Whether you’re practising in your native or second language, being able to land new clients and keep them happy will be the driver of most of your activities. Law firms are client-facing businesses after all. In my experience, the biggest challenge you’ll face will either be keeping demanding clients happy; navigating internal personality conflicts in the workplace or, particularly as a trainee, managing your workload.
3. The caffeine addiction you developed at uni will only get worse
Something that seems to be universally true for lawyers across the world is that they have an unenviably large workload. When I first started working with lawyers I noticed that the more junior they were, the more caffeine-fuelled all-nighters they seemed to be pulling.
Whilst more experienced practitioners did occasionally have to work late nights, many of the trainees were burning the midnight oil on the regular. This, I learnt over time, was not because the evil partners were dumping all of their work onto the trainees (well, not in most cases) but because young professionals generally have less experience in managing a workload and knowing what to prioritise. Whilst coffee and late nights may have been a viable solution to getting through final exams, you’ll soon face burnout if you continue to use the same coping techniques as your 20-year-old self in the workplace.
If I could recommend two books for you to read before starting your training contract they would not be about the law: Deep Work by Cal Newport and Atomic Habits by James Clear are perhaps the best way to prepare yourself for the demands of a lawyer’s workload.
Having said this, it doesn’t seem to matter how senior you are if you work in mergers and acquisitions or private equity – you’re doomed to a life of living under a pile of paperwork. Although your bank balance will surely compensate you for it.
4. You will probably experience imposter syndrome
I recently co-hosted a webinar with a French coach for lawyers on how to overcome imposter syndrome as a lawyer. We had over 400 people register to attend. This is most likely because, according to a 2018 Access Public Finance survey, 74% of lawyers experience imposter syndrome – higher than in most other professions.
Why, you ask? It may well have something to do with that cripplingly large workload – or the fact that you not only have to be great at left-brained problem-solving and logic but also those right-brained communication and interpersonal skills I mentioned earlier. Very few people nail both. If this happens to you, know that you are not alone and reach out to a trusted person to talk about how you are feeling.
For more tips on overcoming imposter syndrome you can check out the full webinar on my website. If you want to have a chat or grow your network, feel free connect with me on LinkedIn."
Rachel will also be publishing her first book, A Lawyer’s Guide to Effective Client Communication in English: How to Build Rapport with Clients when English is your Second Language in May, which will be available on Amazon.
Date: 24 March 2022