“Finding My Path”: An Interview with Future Trainee Solicitor Hannah‑Mei Grisley

Hi Hannah‑Mei, please share with us what the current stage of your career is

Hi there – thank you for having me!

I have just finished the LPC Fast‑Track at BPP, and I'm currently on a 3‑month secondment with a department store before I start my training contract at a City law firm this autumn.

I am one of the founders of Let's Chat Law and 3 Cups of Cha. I also mentor with GROW Mentoring and am active in the inter‑country adoptee community.

I graduated in Modern Languages and Business Management and took a 'year out' after graduation to work at a startup in Hong Kong. It was a fun experience to live in a completely different city. I had previously studied in Beijing during my year abroad, which was a great learning opportunity for me too. I managed my own projects and interacted with clients from top international companies. It also helped me realise that law was the right career path for me, so I returned to the UK to study the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

I did only one vacation scheme, at the law firm where I received my training contract offer. I was lucky enough to shadow beforehand. This, along with my other non-legal work and study experiences, helped me suss out what kind of law and law firm I wanted to work at.

You are very active on social media. Please share what projects you are part of and what you share on them.

As I mentioned, I co‑founded Let's Chat Law and 3 Cups of Cha during lockdown in 2020.

As a non‑law student, I didn't know many other aspiring lawyers, so I started my own legal Instagram page (@hannahhyphenmei) to meet others, especially those from a non‑law background like me, studying the GDL.

I met Juliette and Roslyn online, and we started Let's Chat Law to chat with other aspiring lawyers in Instagram group chats. Let's Chat Law has now evolved into a community of 1800+ aspiring lawyers and a team of 6. We now organise Chats on Zoom, Instagram, and Clubhouse with guest speakers from across the legal industry on topics ranging from diversity in law to LegalTech and application processes. We aim to educate and inform aspiring lawyers by having authentic conversations about law.

Now that we are coming out of lockdown, we hope to organise our first-ever in‑person event to mark our 1st anniversary and expand onto university campuses, as well as partner with societies and other organisations.

I'm also involved with 3 Cups of Cha, an Instagram page that shares news and updates on Chinese and Asian law, business, and culture every weekday. We recognised a gap in the legal industry, and in our own knowledge, for digestible, easy‑to‑read content about Greater China. We also organise roundtable discussions with guest speakers on different topics, which we record as our 'Chaguan Chats' podcast.

What experiences or advice helped you choose which type of law you wanted to enter?

My previous job in Hong Kong was formative in helping me realise what kind of work and working environment I wanted. I worked in project management on a small team at a French startup, which made me realise I enjoy taking responsibility, working with clients, and being part of a small but international team. This helped me focus my training contract applications, so I applied to law firms with smaller trainee intakes, secondment opportunities, and so on.

Right now, I am still very open to trying more areas of commercial and corporate law. I enjoyed my vacation scheme in the competition department and enjoyed the intersection of policy and business, but we'll have to see!

You recently completed the LPC. Please share any tips you have for incoming LPC students.

I recently graduated from BPP's LPC Fast‑track course, and I'm pleased to say I passed!

The accelerated course is very intense, so my biggest tip is to be prepared. Know exactly what you have to do and when, and use the term planners the university offers. Stay on top of your Small Group Session (SGS) or workshop prep, because once you fall behind, it's an uphill battle.

Now that we are studying online, it's important to leverage your support networks and find a classmate or study buddy for revision, or someone to go to the library with (if you're allowed). It can be easy to lose motivation when you're studying at home by yourself, so don't beat yourself up when you do, and recognise when you need a break.

Most LPC courses have online and open-book exams (for now!), so it's important to review how you revise and prepare. I focused on condensing my notes, keeping them in order, and beefing up my problem question structures and flowcharts. The LPC is practical, so there are lots of problem- and scenario-based questions, so make sure you apply your knowledge to the question instead of regurgitating it (which luckily you don't have to if you have your notes in front of you).

What tips would you give to aspiring solicitors in relation to the application process?

My top three tips are things I've learnt the hard way.

Know what you want. Set criteria for the kind of law firm you want to apply to, for example, practice areas, trainee intake size, location, and secondment opportunities, and stick to them when applying. If you are taking a scattergun approach, it makes it harder to write coherent applications and answer 'why this law firm?' in interviews.

Meet the firm, where possible. It's hard to know if you are the right fit for a law firm if you haven't met anyone who works there, whether it's a partner, trainee or HR team member. While most networking events are online, they're still a chance to get a feel for the firm. And don't discount the power of lockdown!

Don't disregard your non‑law experience or interest, especially if you come from a non‑law background. Everyone might have done a law degree, whether it's the LLB or GDL (until the Solicitors Qualifying Examination is fully phased in), and will have some kind of legal work experience or interest, such as volunteering, vacation schemes, or mooting. Find what makes you stand out and what will make law firms remember you when you apply or network at an event.

Finally, share a fun fact about yourself!

I now have the perfect answer for the question 'how have you demonstrated resilience?' When I worked in Hong Kong, I lived in a tiny room, or as I liked to call it, a shoebox about 30 square feet, for 9 months. There was a desk and chair 'downstairs', and a bed and fan in the 'loft', and that was it. Luckily, it was centrally located and had a rooftop terrace. It was great fun because it bonded me with other residents and forced me to get out and explore Hong Kong, though it was also challenging.