The post Sarah U appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I married my wife last year and now have two step children and two cats!

The post Susannah A appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

We didn’t know anyone who had a professional career, and I received no career guidance or support during my education. My path to becoming a lawyer was a result of luck and circumstance.  In a Summer job, I met a couple of people who encouraged me to think about becoming a lawyer- I would never have considered it otherwise.

I am an AS mentor as I am very passionate about ensuring that people from all backgrounds have access to legal careers.  We can all benefit from advice, guidance and support throughout our careers, but it is especially important when you are starting out. Students can email me or contact me on LinkedIn, and I am open to having calls with mentees to discuss their plans and ambitions.

The post Cindy S appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I act for a wide variety of clients, including corporates, investment banks, funds and private equity sponsors. I joined S&S in 2023 from the corporate M&A team of Clifford Chance and I have also spent time on secondment to the M&A legal team of a FTSE 100 company. Prior to Clifford Chance, I completed my Training Contract at a US law firm.

Diversity and inclusion is incredibly important in any law firm and is key to a team and firm’s success. It is about creating a kinder, fairer and more dynamic future for everyone regardless of their background.

The post Holly V appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

Since returning from my first maternity leave at Allen & Overy in 2018, I have worked on a flexible working arrangement (fixed days working from home and certain hours when I will be offline) and was one of the first to do so in a transactional department. I have continued this arrangement at Simpson Thacher. This allows me to share the school and nursery runs with my husband (who also works full time as an in-house lawyer) and spend time with my children during the week.

I grew up in Leeds and studied Law with French Law and Language at Leicester University. I had previously never considered applying to a London law firm, let alone Magic Circle. However speaking with Allen & Overy trainees at a recruitment event gave me the encouragement to give it a go. I have since been heavily involved in graduate recruitment for Leicester University students to encourage others to do the same.

Diversity is critical to bring different perspectives and ideas and to challenge the status quo so that companies and our communities can evolve and thrive.

The post Siân P appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

The post Sophie C appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

Growing up, I always wanted to be a lawyer, but I knew it would be tough. I was state-school educated and did not attend a Russell Group University. I had no connections in the legal industry as a first generation lawyer, and I’m a female ethnic minority. Despite achieving a First in my law degree and a Distinction in my LPC, getting big firms to even consider me was a huge challenge.

Despite the barriers, I have worked my way up from a small high-street practice to a Top 35 global law firm, achieving awards along the way.

The legal profession is still not as diverse as it should be, though firms are becoming more proactive in this area. At Charles Russell Speechlys, I am a member of the Religion, Beliefs and Ethnicity committee and the Gender committee, and I run the firm’s D&I book club.

I am passionate about increasing access to opportunities in the legal sector for ethnic minorities and women. Through my role as a professional ambassador, I hope to motivate aspiring lawyers from under- represented backgrounds achieve their goals.

If you are an aspiring lawyer with a similar background and want some advice or guidance, please do reach out.

The post Shivi R appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I believe that diversity in law and having a diverse range of role models is vitally important. When I first qualified, there were only a handful of female partners at my firm and not many that looked like me. I believe it’s important to have role models that you can identify with. As a senior woman in law, I can offer my experience, guidance and support.

The post Jessica G appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I decided to study law at university after studying it at a-level, and I attended a non Russell group university and achieved a 2:1. I didn’t have any family or friends in the profession, so when I decided to embark on securing a training contract I felt the competition was overwhelming. However, with hard work and perseverance (not letting rejection get in the way), I commenced my training contract at Kennedys in the Cambridge office, following my LPC. I quickly realised litigation was for me, and regularly attended Court doing advocacy for application hearings and CMCs. One year post qualification I joined Hill Dickinson (returning to my northern roots!). During my 10 years at Hill Dickinson I have progressed from a newly qualified to Senior Associate, with two maternity leaves within that time, and I now work part-time.

I appreciate first hand the hurdles faced by diverse groups. I am proud to work for a firm who are committed to support and retain talent in the firm, and has won awards for flexible working and recruitment; there is a real commitment at Hill Dickinson to tackling issues and effecting change.

The post Steph W appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I advise on all aspects of employment law, with clients in a wide range of sectors including organisations in the IT sector, airlines, advertising, financial services and manufacturing, and I also act for executives. I’ve acted in a number of reported cases, including representing Jet2.com against BALPA in High Court and Court of Appeal cases on collective bargaining and the National Union of Mineworkers against Arthur Scargill in relation to his Barbican flat.

I have extensive experience in the discrimination field. I have written widely on topical employment law issues in the national press including The Times and have appeared on BBC News and on radio commenting on such topics. I’m recognised as a leading practitioner in Who’s Who Legal Employment and Labour 2019.

I’m actively involved in its wide ranging initiatives both in the UK and internationally, including its award winning social mobility and gender-based programmes. I also have three daughters and have worked in the past on a part-time basis for several years.

The post Elizabeth L appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.