MY PUPILLAGE EXPERIENCE: (Part 1)

(Today I celebrate being an Alumnus and part of the CUEA October Class of 2015, 2 year anniversary)

8^th December 2016 marked the day I wrote the last paper of law school. Well. after October 2015, happiest day ever, February 2016, meant joining Law School (this will have its own blog post on admission to "Le bar")

I heaved a sigh of relief as I left the examination hall, walking slowly, yet not actually believing it came to pass. Law school was a hectic journey for me (Story Coming soon when I get admitted to “Le bar”)

Could it have been a mere coincidence? The Council of Legal Education chose a hall in my former campus for my exams. Which was good, at least I could relax with the familiarity of my school. I had not only visited as an Alumnus but also a candidate of exams.

So, the interview day finally came. Pupillage was now calling because it is a requirement to be admitted to the bar, to go to an organization or private law firm to train in law practice. I prayed about this, I heard all kinds of horror stories on missing out on pupillage placement. And while so much has passed and so many trials have come to me during this period, I am here to testify of God’s greatness. I dare say, His steadfast love endures forever. I intend to write about my experience in two parts and therefore this is Part 1. Reason being I have undertaken pupillage in two different places. And by the way if you know how pupillage is conducted, please don’t be alarmed, I am still a good lady. In fact, God has groomed me this year in a way that I have never imagined!!

I left Karen on 12^th December 2016, at around 6:30 a.m looking sharp, in a black ladies suit, low heeled shoes, a folder in hand with my academic certificates and a handbag walked to the stage at Galleria and boarded a Rongai Matatu to town. I just had to get into those quick ones; you don’t want to be late for an interview now do you? But guess what reader? I was the last to arrive!! What is wrong with me..? Do you remember my past posts on personality? If you haven’t seen them don’t worry, I plan to do a recap. Anyway, I recently discovered that I am a poor time-keeper and I really take my time while preparing myself. So, my solution is to prepare at least 2 hours before leaving. (Please let a sister be).

So, there I was at Agha Khan Walk, Reinsurance Plaza and I walked in Kenya Law Reform Offices for the first time, I waited in line silently, praying in my heart, taking deep breaths, watching everyone closely. The manner in which I multitasked with my eyes is remarkable; 

I watched the receptionist, the men and women walking around. KEPSA taught me at Interview skills that these people are not there by coincidence they are detectives on this particular day. I turned detective too, put my best foot forward, I had greeted the receptionist and asked her name. I soon realized how closely she watched us. The interviewees next to me were chatting but this particular one surprised me. She would pull every single one who cleared their session to ask the questions they were asked as she quickly searched the answers on the web and shared. She was frantic; I watched her and watched the man who I realized kept on coming to communicate to the receptionist. It became routine, he came each time one of us cleared their interview session. I knew this meant something. I was finally called. Something about INFJ’s (Personality, I will do a recap soon) we have this look of confidence but our heart is beating too fast nothing can keep up. I was ushered into a room, Whoa!! It was a Boardroom, I met so many eyes!! My heartbeat was not helping at all!! I was shown my seat, and damn, was it the most comfortable, I felt my heartbeat slow down. There was a man, whom I soon realized was blind who introduced himself and the entire panel. I noticed a lady taking down notes, even as I was entering the room. Then I remembered (First Impression Matters)!!

This was my first pupillage interview and while many advised to go to several, I somehow did not want to have to suffer like that. So, I said to myself, Please put your best foot forward. Approximately 7 individuals were grilling me, and man was I grilled!! From my education background, to my knowledge of the Constitution, to what the Organization does to General Knowledge. At some point I was asked 3 uses of the internet, I could only manage 2... Hehe I am allowing you to laugh, because even I did not remember what my fellow interviewee had been doing was research using the internet. I later figured, I had panicked because the interview kicked off with tough questions. I was finally through, and the man who had ushered me in while ushering me out said “We have seen your colleagues are discussing please don’t go discussing’”...then I remembered how I suspected him as one of the detectives.  I went back home, went straight on my knees, and told my Father in Heaven that I was thankful for the interview and that if it is His will that I get this opportunity then I am ready for an affirmative from this organization. And if He desires somewhere else for me, I will continue searching. A week later, I was at home, (Parents’ place) and I received an email that was an acceptance and congratulatory email. Oh wow! This was great news. Take note… Great news!! Mam gave a thanksgiving prayer and I later did personally.

I was given an orientation date, and reader, I surely need help. Last to arrive again. And somehow my supervisor had not arrived yet. So I escaped a bad impression again. This time I was last and late, not a good look for me. I met my fellow successful pupils (Don’t ask: Pupillage terms= Pupil (on attachment ) Master (your Trainer/Boss). And I need you to pay close attention to the next recount because God works in mysterious ways.

You remember the guy who was part of the interview panel and was blind? He was in charge of doing orientation for us, Alone, By Himself. He came in, greeted us, and had a chat with us, took us to his office by himself as we followed behind, and we again had a long chat about pupillage terms. I was amazed, was I the only one who noticed how he knew his way around everything. He pulled out a folder, knew which one he needed, he knew his keyboard keys off-head!! He had a computerized system that would speak out to him but mostly, he didn’t need it. This man amazed me. We finally left his office and he took us to each Legal Officer’s office and knew exactly which particular one sat on which office. He soon mastered our names, on that very day. I could not believe how sharp this man was. I met over 10 legal officers, and finally we met other staff on another floor. Yes, guess who took us to the lift to go to another floor and meet Commissioners and other departments and their staff! This one man, I met one of my lecturers who I learned is a Commissioner. I kept on thinking this was God-scripted, He put me here He knew what He was up to.

So, fast forward, Week one went by, two, three and KLRC taught me one thing I will forever contribute to them: NETWORKING. I met the crème de la crème of the legal profession. I pushed myself to get out of my comfort zone called “life will be easy”, my vision to serve in the legal profession started to take shape. I finally understood how wide the legal profession was. I took this with all humility. Work load was unbearable at times. I had legislations of all kind before me; It felt amazing knowing I was finally writing a law that can make a difference to this country. GROWTH was starting to happen to me intellectually.

But, let’s talk about the flipside for a second. I used to travel a lot outside Nairobi City, the first time I had an assignment with a legal officer, I was informed a day to the departure day, I had documents to research on, I barely slept. And the meeting was unbearable because I was sleepy. But, I learnt why sometimes we had to go to counties. To sit with the county assembly and deliberate one on one on why they wanted a law made. To also engage communities on what suited them most when coming up with laws.  So, in the midst of all this travel, there was fun time, and I at one point forgot about work that was pending and just wanted to relax. Damn, I got myself in hot soup. I faced the wrath of not meeting deadlines.

On one occasion I tackled one single Act of Parliament with proposed amendments over 9 times, with a legal officer correcting or rejecting my recommendations. And that means, I had to keep on researching further. I felt disoriented with this particular assignment that the day we cleared it I took a break on the weekend having made sure my desk had no pending work by Friday. I had to embark on jogging again because I needed my mind ever activated. I went out more often to make this mind remember I have a life outside my career.

One thing didn’t quite sit well with me. I had forgotten about my time with God. You know, I have come to learn that the devil is always roaring around looking for whom to devour. I realized that I had suddenly forgotten to give back thanksgiving to God. And this I mean through tithing and offering. (Malachi 3:10) God loves a cheerful giver and for every way we give for His work, He is always faithful to reward us. I wasted money on things I needed, It wasn’t a bad thing for me to spoil myself but it wasn’t also good for me to forget who got me where I was. It is also not a matter of without me, God’s work will not proceed but I am His steward and I want to willingly act as one.

Time went by and soon it was time for a supervisor to visit my pupillage organization to assess what I was doing. Days before this, my colleagues and I had taken upon ourselves to argue a case for 6 months approval instead of 3 months. As we were approaching the lead supervisor’s office, I just said to myself, God is with us. We later got a NO answer. I felt very disappointed; I took it as a punishment because I did not want to go to a law firm. I blamed my best friend Jesus. I should have held on to Hebrews 13:5 but at the time, I put my desires before God’s plan. And, I had not fully understood how Jesus works in my life.

May 31^st marked the last day at the Commission. I cleared my pending assignments and did I tell you we had a party with my colleagues?? Yes we did! Appreciating the time we spent together. A good farewell I must say!! And damn!! Exams in July were also knocking on my door for 2 papers. I somehow felt disappointed for these two scenarios; back to books and back to pupillage search. I took a break from the search and took a fulltime commitment to books, till finally 24^th July came and a full stop was put when “time’s UP” was said. (This will come together with my law school journey when my admission to “Le bar” is prêt)

The search for the next 3 month place of pupillage was on and I came face to face with how to understand when God is working and when it is not Him. I look at the Commission and I realized I learnt the following:

         

   Networking- I learnt skills of associating with my seniors, people who work in places I wish to work at. (I recently redid a personality test and I continue to understand where best I can work in my career)

          

  Decorum, Character and Diplomacy- I learnt to respect the order of seniority among colleagues and people holding higher ranks of office. I also developed my character that has helped me identify how to tackle relationships with my colleagues, family, and friends. (I dare say, I understood the kind of spouse I would like in future.) I learnt how to be diplomatic with other people, how to understand that people don’t always react to a situation the way I do, and patience to understand another person is a virtue

           

 Teamwork- INFJs like me hate teamwork, I personally used to, especially in law school. (don’t ask further). But soon, I understood why this is an eventuality anywhere. I am not an island; God created every man and saw that it was good. Who am I to dispute that? I am not the only one. And so, assignments, became hectic, I needed my colleagues, they needed me too. I consulted even non-lawyers; Because God put me in a diverse organization so that I am not confined in some box.

All things work together for good to those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28)

Coming up: Part 2: My pupillage experience