Learn to type

If you are going to make a habit of representing others in the tribunals, learn to touch-type. That is, learn to type fluently, without looking at the keyboard, using all your fingers on the ‘correct’ keys.

This is hard advice to follow. If you’ve been using computers for a while, you’re probably quite fluent using 2 or 3 fingers on each hand and looking at the keyboard. You’ll never reach competent secretary speeds that way, but for lots of purposes – because it’s the thinking what to write that takes the time more than the writing – you don’t notice that your typing speed is slow. Once you’ve got to that point, it’s hard to learn to type properly – because although your final touch-typing speed will be a lot faster, while you learn you will have to slow right down to complete beginner speeds. That’s incredibly frustrating while it lasts.

All the same, it’s good advice. Learning the keyboard so that you can find each letter with the right finger without looking takes maybe 2 to 4 hours’ concentration. There are lots of free typing courses on the internet; you just have to pick one, and spend a few boring hours doing exercises. After that, it’s just a matter of practice to get your speed up – and forcing yourself to stick to touch-typing for all purposes, even while it slows you down. The more you drill yourself on exercises, the shorter that period will be.

With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to take something close to word-for-word notes of evidence during the hearing. That’s handy in any case; but in a long case, or a case that gets adjourned mid-way through it’s an enormous help; see laptops in the tribunal.