Providing access to diverse talent is important to me because I believe in a fair and equal starting point for all. I also believe that with determination and resilience you can begin a successful legal career regardless of your background, and I would love to support you in fostering these skills on your journey. I sought help from Aspiring Solicitors when I began my Training Contract applications, and I had a mock interview with one of their mentors at the time.

If you have a state school background and/or were the first in your home to attend university and/or you are a part-time carer, we may share similar experiences and hopefully I can offer another perspective.

The post Vanessa R-H appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I am a member of Travers Smith’s Enable group and am involved in various disability inclusion activities inside and outside of work. I’m also active in EDI more generally. For example, I helped to write the Pensions Regulator’s recent EDI guidance.

I have a number of physically disabling and energy-limiting chronic health conditions.

After state school, I went to UCL for a Philosophy degree, then the College of Law and BPP Law School. I did paid work throughout my studies. I also had caring responsibilities – then and since.

Travers Smith has always been very supportive of my EDI and pro bono activities.

I’d be very happy to provide mentoring support via email, scheduled calls or LinkedIn. Feel free to get in touch.

The post Charlotte F appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I nonetheless enjoyed teaching in secondary schools of all different kinds, where I learned a lot about people, relationship building, adaptability and organising myself. I continued volunteering at my local Citizens Advice, as my background had taught me that the impossible is around us all the time, so one day, a legal career might become a possibility for me. Often the doors we think are closed just need a little push at the right time.

When my children left home, I decided it was now or never. In my early 40s I returned to university. I worked full time as a courier, and ran a business online while I studied. I wasn’t afraid of hard work, but I needed help to direct my energy where it’d be most effective. Aspiring Solicitors’ support was invaluable in showing me how to research and evaluate different firms to know which ones really ‘walk the walk’ in terms of diversity, building my confidence to aim for the top.

Since starting my TC at Withers, I’ve often found that elements of my unique background turned out to have taught me many soft skills such as how to & work smart cope under pressure, establish good relations and healthy boundaries, all of which complements the academic and practical skills I’ve picked up through my life experience and studies.

The post Finn H appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

After the LPC, I undertook my training contract at SJB working in Commercial & Technology, Corporate (venture), Tax and Litigation. I enjoyed all of my seats but Tax was definitely the ‘right fit’ and I was delighted to qualify into the team in 2007, where I worked on a broad range of matters before specialising in the taxation of real estate transactions and joint ventures, as well as private investment funds.

In early 2017, I took a career break, during which time I focussed on raising my children and helping to look after a family member.  Once I was ready to get back to law, I spoke with the Reignite Academy who helped me secure a fantastic re-introduction to the legal world with CMS Cameron McKenna, working in their tax team on real estate transactions.

A year later, I moved to Goodwin to focus on private investment funds and to work alongside former colleagues from SJ Berwin.

I now work part time at Goodwin and am really enjoying being back at work whilst still managing my family commitments and carer responsibilities, with the support of my Goodwin colleagues.

It’s incredibly important to me that Goodwin represents a diverse cross sector of individuals, including elevating women who may have taken time away from the law and to be an ally to women of colour who still face institutional barriers during their legal careers.

The post Katy W appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

When I qualified I became a duty solicitor, representing defendants in the Magistrates’ Court for several years. I conducted all Magistrates’ Court hearings including trials. I then worked in house for an insurer where I began to work in Criminal Regulatory Law and in particular in Health and Safety. After a couple of years I was employed to work in the Health and Safety Regulatory Team at Pinsent Masons, as a Solicitor.

A couple of years later I was promoted to Associate and 3 years later to Senior Associate. I advise large international companies and individual Directors across all sectors on their health and safety compliance and liability. This is often in the aftermath of serious incidents involving fatalities and life changing injuries. I strongly believe that the legal profession must diversify in all respects in order to attract the best talent. The best lawyers and colleagues are not necessarily from the ‘traditional’ route into law. I feel really passionate about letting people from diverse backgrounds know there is a place for them in law and to encourage them to aim for a legal career if that is their goal.

The post Laura W appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I started working as an office assistant in a law firm and my passion to study law was reignited. I progressed to a paralegal in a debt recovery department and started studying law at university parttime (one evening a week whilst working full-time). Having balanced my life like this for four years, I finally graduated in 2018. In the same year, I had a little girl in the August. I decided to put my career on hold whilst I focused on family life.

In 2021, after the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exams, I started studying again. It is safe to say that juggling full-time work, part-time study as well as being a parent has been a challenge! I am hoping to be one of the first ever solicitors to qualify using this route.

I come from a working class family, and the first generation to go to university, the first to become a lawyer. My dad didn’t work and stayed at home to look after me and my sisters. My mum worked part time. I am determined to prove that you can study and practise law, regardless of your background. I more determined to prove that working mothers can achieve big, and having children does not and should not affect your potential.

I was told that I would never be able to achieve my dream of becoming a lawyer. I am more determined then ever to prove those people wrong. This is why diversity is key.

The post Katie W appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I was hesitant to start my legal career and did not know where to begin. Being the first generation in my family to attend university and pursue a legal path, made it feel like a very daunting process and lacked confidence in my ability to secure a training contract.

After obtaining a role as a legal intern in my university’s legal department, alongside further experience throughout my studies, including participating in the Aspiring Solicitors Commercial Awareness Competition, on my second attempt of applying to Blake Morgan I was successful in securing a place on their vacation scheme, which led to me being offered a training contract.

After completing my LPC I commenced my training contract in March 2020, one day before the country went into a national lockdown. Therefore, the majority of my training took place remotely as we worked through the pandemic and adapted to what is now the new way of working. During this time I also juggled caring responsibilities at home when all facilities closed down.

I hope that the legal profession continues to diversify and that anyone who wants to become a solicitor can, no matter what their background or path into law may be. I hope to encourage others to show their individuality and grow in confidence.

If you would like any advice on applications or life as junior lawyer, please feel free to get in touch!

The post Jodie G appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I went on to study Law and French Law at the University of Oxford, after taking a year out because I missed my grades, during which time I worked locally, which I continued to do whilst at university.

I took six months out before starting the LPC at BPP and then trained at Hogan Lovells where I sat in the pensions, debt capital markets (securitisations), commercial litigation, and employment teams. I’m now an Associate in our commercial litigation team, with a broad practice covering pensions, professional negligence, competition, fraud and commercial disputes.

I’m really passionate about supporting others from underrepresented backgrounds into the law, as the Pathways to Law programme was so important to my success.  I love working at a firm that is so committed to diversity and widening participation, and doesn’t settle for doing so “well enough” when it could do even better.

My main piece of advice might sound a bit unorthodox, but I would say to make the most of all the amazing opportunities available to you while at university – doing the things you love will develop so many transferable skills and will make you a more well-rounded, interesting person – all of those skills can go to make your applications stand out.

Please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me if any of the above resonates with you, or you’d like to discuss applications or navigating the transition from rural life to a career in city law.

The post Bethany B appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I attended the University of Portsmouth, achieved a 2:1 in LLB Law, went to a state school and was the first in my family to attend university.

I understand the difficulties candidates face in an area as competitive as law. In particular, from a social mobility perspective, I can appreciate how personal struggles can really get in the way of confidence and keeping positive when applying for training contracts.

I appreciate the journey to becoming a solicitor is tedious and why applicants may be put off or give up because they think they cannot get there. I come from a background where education was not a priority, nor was it of much interest to my family. Being exposed to that attitude towards education meant that I was never interested in school and did not appreciate the importance of good GCSE’s. At the point of almost failing my GCSE’s, I felt very negative and having my school and family not believing in me felt extremely disheartening.

I support Aspiring Solicitors because I truly believe no aspiring solicitor should feel discouraged from a career in law simply because you believe you are not ‘good enough’ or that compared to others, you do not stand a chance. As long as you have charisma, a desire and passion to succeed and learn there is no reason why you cannot be part of the law profession. You are just as deserving as anybody else.

My top tips would be: 1. Do not be put off by your background, embrace and own it. 2. Honesty is the best policy, show off your personality to law firms – they want to see the real you. 3. Remember grades are not the ultimate benchmark, they may be a contributing indicator of competency but not the only indicator.

Please do not hesitate to contact me and remember, no question is a stupid question.

The post Daniela P appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.