I started my internship at The New Practice (TNP) two days after the other interns. By the time I arrived, I had already missed the general orientation that the others had received. To make matters even more intimidating, I was the youngest person there. As someone who had just come out of secondary school, was naturally introverted, and admittedly socially awkward, I found myself in an environment that was very far outside my comfort zone.

I remember arriving early on my first day and waiting for almost two hours before I was eventually taken around the office and introduced to everyone. Under different circumstances, this could have made an already unfamiliar experience even more uncomfortable. However, what stood out to me almost immediately was how welcoming everyone at TNP was. People made an effort to include me, asked me questions, involved me in conversations, and genuinely seemed interested in getting to know me. Coming from a relatively sheltered environment and being someone who is naturally very introverted, this meant more to me than I can properly express. Before I began learning about the law, I was learning how to become comfortable in an unfamiliar professional environment.

Beyond the social experience, my time at TNP gave me my first real exposure to practical legal work. I had the opportunity to sit in on weekly meetings and observe some of the processes involved in trademark registration, company incorporation, filings, and mergers. These experiences gave me a much clearer understanding of the work lawyers do beyond what is taught in textbooks. Seeing legal concepts applied to real situations made the profession feel much more tangible to me.

I was also fortunate to have lawyers who took the time to teach me theoretical legal concepts and engage me in discussions. Rather than simply giving me information, they asked questions that required me to analyse issues, consider different perspectives, and explain my reasoning. These conversations challenged me to begin thinking more like a lawyer and showed me that legal practice requires far more than simply knowing the law.

One of the highlights of my internship was having the opportunity to make a presentation of my own. Preparing for it strengthened my research skills and pushed me to develop my public speaking abilities. Having to stand before people who were considerably more experienced than me was intimidating, but it also gave me confidence in my ability to communicate ideas in a professional setting.

I was also privileged to attend a three-day training conducted by Mr. Chinua Azuzu on The Uncommon Law of Learned Writing. The training introduced me to the principles of effective legal writing and taught me how important clarity, structure, and precision are when communicating legal ideas. Being exposed to these principles before I had even formally begun studying law was an especially valuable part of the internship.

However, when I look back on my time at TNP, what I remember most is not a particular task or legal concept. It is the people and the atmosphere. I will never forget the warmth I received from my first day until my last, or the sense of camaraderie I experienced in a place where almost everyone was far ahead of me in both age and professional experience. The games, activities, conversations, and everyday interactions made the firm feel like more than simply a place where I was completing an internship.

My time at The New Practice pushed me outside my comfort zone while giving me the support to grow within it. I came in as a nervous student fresh out of secondary school with very little understanding of what working in a law firm would feel like. I left with a better understanding of legal practice, improved research and communication skills, greater confidence in interacting with professionals, and, perhaps most importantly, a clearer picture of the kind of environment in which I hope to learn and grow.

For all these reasons, my time at TNP is an experience I know I will never forget. The knowledge I gained will undoubtedly be useful as I begin my journey into law, but the warmth, encouragement, and sense of belonging I experienced there are what will always secure The New Practice a special place in my heart.

Oluwateleola Esther Sogbanmu

By Oluwateleola Esther Sogbanmu