Reading on Holiday - Should Legal Professionals Consider it?

August is traditionally seen as the time for people to switch off from work, and to enjoy getting away from the office. But could legal professionals use that time to read around their subject, gaining a greater understanding and depth that they can then bring back to their work? Or should that time be a chance to completely switch off? 

At Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment, we value both personal growth, and being able to switch off from work. So, we wanted to ask – if you are on holiday, should you consider reading around your subject?

Reading in general offers huge benefits for people, especially on holiday. It is a good way to reduce stress, helps to allow our bodies to sleep and to stimulate the mind and our memory. In many ways, therefore, reading allows us to disconnect from the world around us, and to get lost in something new, whether it be a piece of fiction, or in-depth into a subject that we might have no knowledge of. Research shows that all these things affect the brain – it releases chemicals that stimulate it and help it to relax. So, reading on holiday is the perfect activity – but does that apply to legal texts?

Normally, we attempt to read while juggling a busy job and a busy life. Reading might be a snatched activity normally – 15 minutes during the morning commute, half an hour during lunch if you are not busy, a chapter just before you go to bed. However, when you are on holiday, you can devote time to a book, really get to grip with the ideas it presents, and really develop an understanding of the subject it is focused around. And, with the law being so complicated, taking the time to really understand it in detail is vital. So, switching off from work will give you the chance to fit in this personal development, and to develop your deeper understanding of a subject. It could be an effective way to develop skills you may not have, and, if you want to transition from one area of law to another, it gives you the chance to read around the subject you want to move towards and decide if it is a good fit for you. If you are thinking about reading around your subject on holiday, a few things to keep in mind might be choosing a book that you're interested in and that you think will be challenging but rewarding, setting aside some time each day to read, and don't feel guilty if you need to take a break from reading to relax or enjoy other activities. You are on holiday, and that time is your time!

The Law Society Gazette recently published an article by David Pickup, Senior Partner, and Solicitor at Pickup & Scott Solicitors, of some good books to read on holiday if you are a lawyer. The Guardian also has a list of recommendations for law students to read during the summer, and there are plenty of other lists out there. You probably have a list of your own books you want to read, but just can’t find the time for. Maybe taking them on holiday might not be such a bad idea – you can use the experience to grow, to discover new insights and knowledge you can bring back to your job, while at the same time switching off from the stresses and strains of work. Using your holiday smartly can expand your mind and relax your body – and prepare you for new challenges on your return.