This has been the most jam packed week so far, and probably the best one yet. I feel like I have said that every week, but truly this experience keeps getting better. Last week was the June intern cohorts last week in Dublin and we made the most of our time together. It is hard to put into words how much I have grown both personally and professionally over the past few weeks, but this prompt gave me a great reason to reflect on exactly that.
My soft skills have always been a strong suit of mine, but this internship has pushed them further than I expected. The other interns helped me develop more professional language and conversational skills in a way that a classroom simply cannot replicate. Watching how they carried themselves in meetings, communicated with senior staff, and handled day to day interactions taught me a lot about professional tone and presence. Another small but extremely helpful thing they taught me was Irish slang. I was extremely surprised at how many words and phrases I did not understand, and for a while I felt out of the loop in conversations. To help me with this, the interns took it upon themselves to teach me a new Irish word or phrase every day. My personal favorite is “Céad míle fáilte,” which means “a hundred thousand welcomes,” and it perfectly captures how I have felt at Flynn O’Driscoll from day one.
Perhaps the most valuable soft skill I developed this week came from an unexpected place. When the June interns left, I found myself nervous to start over and make friends with twelve new people. I am not typically a shy person, but it felt like a daunting task, like starting completely from scratch. Laura in HR, who has become a true role model for me throughout this placement, encouraged me to just go talk to them. I took her advice, and I am really glad I did. The July interns have been incredibly kind. We have already eaten lunch together and started a group chat to stay connected. I still feel closer to the June group, but I am genuinely excited to get to know this new cohort. The lesson I took away from that moment is one I will carry with me for the rest of my career. Becoming friendly with your coworkers, even when you are feeling closed off or overwhelmed, is not just a nice thing to do. It is a professional skill, and it matters.
On the technical side, this internship has given me hands-on experience that I truly could not have gotten anywhere else. The biggest hard skill I have gained is learning to use Practice Evolve, a legal accounting software used to manage client transactions. I have learned how to file transactions under matter codes and how to keep client monies properly allocated in accordance with the Solicitors Accounts Regulation, known as the SAR. Understanding the SAR has been eye opening because it introduced me to a regulatory framework that I had no prior exposure to. The care and precision required to handle client funds correctly has reinforced just how high the stakes are in legal finance. Because most accounting software operates on similar principles, I know these skills will transfer directly into future internships and roles.
As for global competencies, I did not fully appreciate how much cross-cultural awareness plays into a professional environment until I was living it. One moment that stood out to me this week was when a coworker came up to me and asked “what’s the craic?” Without missing a beat I responded “what’s the story?” which are two phrases that go hand in hand in Irish culture, both essentially asking how you are and what is going on. My coworker was genuinely surprised by my quick response and it opened up a real conversation. I ended up learning about his role on a completely different team within the company, which I never would have connected with otherwise. That small exchange reminded me that language is not just about words. It is about showing people that you are paying attention and that you care enough to meet them where they are. I am overall extremely happy with the progress I have made, and I truly feel that this placement is one of the most transferable experiences I could have found.
