As with many service professions there are bound to be some stressful times in your legal career due to anything from tight deadlines and challenging clients, to those heart-stopping moments when you think you have paginated a 1000-page document incorrectly. However from the outset there should be plenty of support and encouragement from your new colleagues, partners and support staff alike. Not only will they be there to ease the pressure but they should also teach you how to deal with it! There are, however, some firms which prefer the 'sink or swim' approach. This needn't be terrifying especially if you relish a challenge but be very careful and try to choose an approach which you think will suit you best. Trainees at Michelmores are surrounded by 'partners who are very approachable and eager to talk to you'. They also feel that they work in a 'very collegiate atmosphere' where people are 'forward thinking and able to provide practical solutions as quickly as they are required without losing their sense of humour!' Geldards staff 'always have time for one another' especially in times of crisis and head over to Kent and you will find a similar story at asb law where staff are 'friendly and supportive'. The partners at Fladgate are 'all willing to take time and explain things to you' and the quality of supervision is 'excellent' which is reassuring. Trainees at Kennedys like the fact that 'the firm offers good-quality work and you also get adequate support and supervision' so the working environment is 'not too stressful'. Forbes offers 'a lot of support to trainees' and the open-door policy means that people are more than happy to help should you have a query. Thanks to its 'unique' ambience, you should find that stress levels are kept to a minimum at Payne Hicks Beach and at Andrew Jackson trainees feel that they can 'ask partners for help if they need to'. Again Burges Salmon's 'two-week induction' is praised for giving trainees a 'thorough' introduction to the firm - but don't worry if that doesn't help as supervisors are 'approachable' and 'willing to help'. Stephens Scown's open-door policy is a 'great support', while at Brabners, trainees appreciate the 'relaxed yet hardworking atmosphere'.