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

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When I was younger, I was worried that being gay would have a negative impact on my ability to access a top law firm and progress in my career.  However, while studying for my GDL, I worked for a public interest company named Queer Lawyers of Tomorrow where I learned to be proud of my identity and use my experience working in diversity and inclusion to my advantage.  Since joining TLT, I have learned that it is a firm, which embraces diversity and inclusion and values having employees from a wide range of backgrounds.  TLT have a strong system of networks, including an LGBTQ+ network, which does excellent work scrutinising the firm’s policies and publications, suggesting how these can be improved, and educating the firm about queer experiences. I have done a range of seats including Financial Services Litigation, Family and Construction.  Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions in relation to applications, securing a training contract or my experience as a trainee solicitor.

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As a gay man from a state school and being the first to attend university in my family, diversity and inclusion are incredibly important to me as I have overcome various barriers to get to the incredible place I now am heading with my future career in the Law.

Please reach out to me for advice on the application process, to discuss my personal experiences and anything D&I that I can support with!

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I was the first generation in both my immediate and wider family to go to university, and went to a state-school that had little to no support when it came to career advice or opportunities. At university, I often found myself feeling on the back-foot in comparison to others who had insights into the legal sphere and even during my training contract noticed the differing experiences of those who had legal contacts and those who didn’t.

I think it’s unbelievably important that organisations like Aspiring Solicitors are available to give those who do not fit the typical ‘City Lawyer’ stereotype opportunities to succeed and reach their goals. The legal profession benefits greatly from having more diversity and I hope to be part of the change which encourages a more diverse future for the profession. When turning up to work every day, the most important thing is for you to be happy and capable of doing your job well, which only happens when employees feel comfortable and can be themselves.

I hope to inspire future solicitors and ensure they know that no matter what their background, there are people available to help overcome obstacles and support them in their legal journey.

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I considered law in the final years of my PhD as I felt academia was not where I wanted to be. Initially, I was advised to pursue intellectual property law but after completing a mini-pupillage, I realised that I was interested broadly in commercial law, particularly disputes.

I have been an active member of Aspiring Solicitors throughout my TC journey, starting from Aspire, VDLF and emerging as a finalist in the Commercial Awareness Competition. This enabled me to understand the legal sector as a career changer, while building on my skills.

I would say that diversity comes in many forms. For me, it was about bringing in perspectives as a STEM student and researcher into the practice of law. I was pleasantly surprised by how my skills from university, such as the ability to deal with large volumes of information and present complex data in a meaningful way, were relevant when I completed vacation schemes. Additionally, being an international student also enabled me to bring in the perspective of South and East Asian markets when I was completing tasks.

Therefore, I would say that treat diversity as a strength while writing applications and participating in assessment centres. Don’t be afraid to bring in your unique perspectives to stand out as a candidate. If I could help you in your TC journey, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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I was the first generation in both my immediate and wider family to go to university, and I went to a state-school that had little to no support when it came to career advice or opportunities. At university, I often found myself feeling on the back-foot in comparison to others who had insights into the legal sphere and still now suffer with a great deal of ‘imposter syndrome’.

I think it’s unbelievably important that organisations like Aspiring Solicitors are available to give those who do not fit the typical ‘City Lawyer’ stereotype opportunities to succeed and reach their goals. The legal profession as a whole benefits greatly from having more diversity and I hope to be part of the change which encourages a more diverse future for the profession. I hope to inspire future solicitors and ensure they know that no matter what their background, there are people available to help overcome obstacles and support them in their legal journey.

The post Neely M appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I am an associate in the Life Sciences Regulatory department at Covington. I joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2018. Before switching to a career in law, I was a graduate student at the University of Hong Kong where I obtained my PhD in Biochemistry. I was attracted to Covington as a firm due to its global reputation in the life sciences field. I found that the skills and experience I gained working in research science were an asset during my training contract. If you are considering a career in law and are coming from a different professional or academic background, I would definitely recommend the switch.

I advise life sciences clients that range from multinational pharmaceutical companies to early stage biotechs on regulatory issues relating to pharmaceutical products, medical devices and consumer products. I also provide advice on a range of commercial agreements and arrangements in the life sciences space, such as clinical trial agreements, distribution agreements and licence agreements. I really enjoy that my role allows me to develop my expertise in the life sciences sector in a broad range of subject areas.

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I attended a state school in Scotland before going to the University of Glasgow where I studied law. During my time at Glasgow, I studied abroad at Stockholm university, volunteered as a general advisor with Citizens Advice Scotland and sat as Honorary Treasurer for the Glasgow University Law Society.

I secured my place with Pinsent Masons through the online vacation scheme in 2020, sitting in the litigation team and presenting on the Corporate Green Agenda. Following this, I obtained a scholarship to undertake a Masters in Public International Law at the University of Amsterdam. Here, I studied international dispute settlement, responsibility and sustainable development. I also represented Amsterdam University in the Jessup International Moot Court Competition.

I went on to complete my Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh while volunteering for their Free Legal Advice Clinic and working for the organisation JUSTICE as a legal researcher in human rights and legal reform.

As a trainee with a background in state school education, from a low income family and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I am immensely invested in the diversity of the legal profession at all levels. In particular, I believe that a career in law and opportunities to progress should be accessible to everyone and that diversity and inclusion is integral to a truly representative legal profession.

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