What inspired you to become a lawyer?
I've always been interested in law, I studied it at A-level and found it fascinating. However, I didn't know any solicitors or barristers, so decided to not pursue a career in the profession. It was always something that I kept in the back of my mind though. For instance, when I was working a part time job, I was always the person who would read the employee handbook and knew all the rules about employee rights. So, employment law was always something I was genuinely interested in. It was only when I completed work experience at Citizen’s Advice, that I was really inspired to become a lawyer and pursue that pre-existing interest.
What was your route into the legal profession?
As mentioned, I did law at A-level and then went on to study English language and English language teaching at university. During my second year, I realised that I didn’t want to pursue English as a career, so I decided to apply for the GLD when I finished. I studied that for a year, then completed my LPC and a master's in law. After my studies, I was an in-house paralegal for a year, then I went on to secure a training contract at Transport for London.
How does working in-house differ from private practice?
It differs quite significantly. In-house is more reactive to what's happening there and then in the business. The advice given is more commercial, and you don’t have to bill or time record. Colleagues might come up to your desk after having a meeting to ask for quickfire legal advice. The way that you give advice is different as you’re talking to colleagues rather than clients, so initially you might not necessarily draft them an email of advice, instead you might go to a different floor to talk to them.
What made you decide to go into private practice and why did you choose Mills & Reeve?
I wanted a change, I wanted to experience another environment, and have diversity in advising varied clients on different employment law matters.
I applied to Mills & Reeve because they were well regarded for their employment team. The culture also really stood out for me, as I hadn’t worked in private practice before. I really wanted to work in a firm that supported its employees and where I could see myself fitting in. From everything I’d read and heard about Mills & Reeve, I felt like it was the best fit for my career.
Any tips for others wanting to become a lawyer?
My tip to all aspiring lawyers would be to persevere. My journey wasn’t smooth, it took several years, and I didn’t take the usual route. All experience is valuable experience, whether it be part time roles or volunteering. Anything that helps you build skills, deal with customers/clients will be beneficial to applications and CVs.
What’s it like working at Mills & Reeve?
Mills & Reeve is genuinely a firm that follows its messaging. A lot of firms talk about diversity, inclusion, and supporting colleagues, but don’t fully put it into practice. With Mills & Reeve, what they say is what they do! I’ve felt incredibly supported since I started, and whilst there’s always more to do in terms of diversity, I’ve never felt othered here, which is really important to me.