Luke St

Profile:

My journey into law has been challenging but rewarding. Coming from a working-class background in Wrexham, law wasn’t the typical route to working life.

My first significant hurdle was the financial barrier to university. After leaving school, I worked in a factory over the summer. Once college began, I applied for countless part-time jobs without success until I finally secured a cleaning role at a doctor’s surgery. This job required a daily 15-mile round trip by bike through the Welsh hills, which built resilience that has been invaluable in my career.

After A-Levels, I earned a place at the University of Manchester to study law, expecting a straightforward path to becoming a lawyer. However, I quickly realised I was unprepared for the concept of commercial awareness. Unlike my peers, I had no background in political or commercial discussions, which put me at a disadvantage. I faced multiple rejections from law-related events and schemes, and my grades were unimpressive. This led to imposter syndrome and a temporary decision to abandon law for other graduate schemes.

While applying for business-related roles, I honed my skills in psychometric tests, video interviews, and assessment centres, even securing a few offers. Encouraged by my improved academic performance, I realised I wasn’t ready to give up on law. I pursued a masters in international business on a scholarship, dedicating myself to bridging my commercial awareness gap. This effort culminated in securing various vacation schemes and a training contract offer from Shoosmiths, where I will start in 2026.

The importance of diversity in the legal profession cannot be overstated. The best solutions arise from diverse perspectives, and this can only be achieved by introducing different experiences and backgrounds into the legal sphere.

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