Event report: Junior to Mid-level Lawyer Network

In this session, Sophie Yantian, Associate at RPC, Amber Ahmed, Senior Associate at the Payment Systems Regulator and Holly Smaill, Senior Legal Counsel at Tesco explored what it really means to bounce forward - to treat challenges not as dead ends but as pivot points.

Instead of trying to return to who we were before a setback, we discussed how each difficult moment can become an opportunity to adapt, to evolve, and to build resilience.

A key message throughout the talk was the importance of seeing every situation as a pivot point.

Challenges don’t have to be viewed as failures or barriers. When we meet them with curiosity, they become chances to adjust our approach, widen our perspective, and move forward in new, more informed ways.

The panel spoke openly about the emotional side of this work; how uncertainty, self-doubt, and discomfort are completely normal. Navigating through those feelings is part of the process. Growth often comes from taking steps that feel unfamiliar or intimidating, gently pushing past the boundaries we’ve built around what we think we can do.

Another central theme was the value of questions. Reminding ourselves that no one is expected to know everything, especially early in their career or in new environments. Asking questions early isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength that accelerates understanding and prevents avoidable mistakes.

To stay grounded and maintain confidence, the talk emphasized the usefulness of keeping a folder of positive feedback - a personal archive of evidence that counters the stories self-doubt tries to tell. This helps especially when dealing with imposter syndrome, which we learned is not something you “graduate from,” but something you continually reframe. When those feelings arise, remind yourself: there is no real evidence behind them. They are feelings, not facts.

Support networks also play a major role in bouncing forward. While talking to peers is valuable - because they understand your context - there’s equal importance in talking to friends, family, and people outside your immediate circle, who can offer clarity, grounding, and different angles. Mentors, too, are essential; their hindsight becomes your foresight.

We also discussed bravery, especially in situations where you may need to say “no” to someone more senior.

The guidance was simple but powerful: be brave, be kind, and be honest. If you come from a place of respect and clarity, difficult conversations become easier to navigate. This links directly to how we handle mistakes - by being open and honest about what happened. Transparency builds trust, and it allows you to pivot quickly instead of getting stuck.

Ultimately, the session reinforced that resilience isn’t about perfection; it's about adaptation. It’s built through small acts of courage, honest conversations, reframing fears, and choosing to see challenges as chances to grow.

The overarching message:

Don’t just bounce back, bounce forward.

Every challenge carries the possibility of progress. Every setback can be a new starting point. And every moment of doubt is an invitation to step into a stronger, clearer version of yourself.