I was lucky to have great people talk me through what a career in the city and in law looks like, explain what lawyers actually do and talk through the painful nature of the recruitment process. That helped me relax when rejections came in and on my vac scheme. Getting a job in law can be so stressful for lots of people and I think I want to help people in such a way so as to remove some of that stress. Whilst I might have less experiential wisdom that I can offer, I’d like to think that I can make the application journey a little easier by “pulling back the curtain” a little bit.

The post Charlie S appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

During my career so far, the best lawyers I have worked with have had a less traditional route into the legal profession, often because a clear pathway was not available to them. I am keen to do what I can in order to ensure that really talented and motivated people can have a more direct route into the profession. I am happy to provide any support that participants would find helpful including fielding emails, calls and meeting up for coffee to discuss trainee applications. I have been fortunate to have been the beneficiary of loads of advice and support at various stages of my career/tertiary education and would love the opportunity to do the same for others.

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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.

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As a mentor I’d be happy to be contacted via email or LinkedIn to provide support where I can, as well as happy to support at in-person events.

The post Robyn C appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

As a Psychology graduate, I struggled to understand what law firms look for in their applications and have had to build up my legal experiences much later than the vast majority of other applicants. As an overseas student, I have also experienced the difficulties of adjusting to school life in a foreign country (let alone work life and law firm applications!). I had no connections in the legal industry and was unsure as to where to start.

Having applied for numerous first-year schemes, vacation schemes and training contacts across two application cycles without any success, I really learnt how best to portray my experiences in a way which law firms prefer (and what law firms don’t like!), and what work experiences to look for to build out my CV. Luckily, in my third year of applications, and with some help from various diversity schemes like Aspiring Solicitors, I managed to get a TC offer from the legacy firm, Allen & Overy, and a vacation scheme offer from another Magic Circle law firm.

I believe that with the right guidance and mindset, a diverse background can be an invaluable asset.

The post Nicholas H appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I come from a family of non-lawyers and attended a state junior school. Having fairly recently started my training contract at Covington in September 2023, I am aware of how competitive the industry is, and how challenging it can be to obtain work in this field. I would like to help increase accessibility to the legal profession by sharing my knowledge, advice and support where I can.

The post Emilia D R appeared first on Aspiring Solicitors.

I am the first in my generation of family to attend university and work in the legal industry, so I have always remained passionate about improving diversity and inclusion in the industry and sharing my experiences so far.

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I come from a lower representative background, as neither of my parents went to university or sixth form, I went to a state school, and my ethnicity is mixed, with my mother coming to the UK at a young age. Starting a career in law is challenging enough, but coming from a different background can make it even harder. I was fortunate to receive support from Aspiring Solicitors and the PRIME scheme before university, where I participated in AS First, AS Aspire, the Commercial Awareness Competition, and other events. I benefited most from having a mentor and a guide, who was an AS mentor, and who helped me bridge the gaps of applying and becoming a lawyer. For this reason, and because I know how valuable it is to have someone to look up to who shares a similar background, I am happy to be an AS Mentor.

Diversity is important to me because it enriches the legal profession and society with different perspectives, experiences, and talents. It also promotes inclusion, fairness, and opportunity for people from all walks of life.

The post Marshall T 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.

As an international student who struggled for a while to secure a traineeship, it is important for me to be a role model for other international students who aspire to join the British legal profession and are maybe uncertain or doubtful of fitting in while preserving and showcasing the flair and personality of their nation’s culture. After all – an office where individuality and multiculturalism thrive, is a successful office.

I would love to offer my experience, insights, and advice in relation to what I have struggled with during trainee applications and my career. I can also provide insights around my current traineeship. I can also share what I do on a daily basis to further my career and promote my personal brand; and support candidates from international backgrounds feel included in the legal industry.

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