Hi Nadine, could you please introduce yourself and briefly explain your legal journey so far?
My name is Nadine, and I am a future Magic Circle trainee, due to start in March 2022. I attended the University of Leicester in 2011, where I studied LLB Law with a Year Abroad. In my third year, I took part in an international exchange at the University of Windsor in Canada, where I studied law and Spanish.
After graduating in 2015 without a training contract, I worked for 2 years as a residential property legal assistant at an in‑house firm. Determined to qualify as a solicitor, I self‑funded the LLM and LPC at BPP Law School and graduated in 2018. I then worked in private practice as a property paralegal, managing my own clients and conveyancing transactions.
In 2020, I took time out to focus on the legal recruitment process. I reflected on my previous mistakes, the feedback I had received and my motivations for pursuing law. In January 2021, I received my dream job at my dream firm, Linklaters.
Can you explain why you chose to go into commercial law?
My journey into commercial law was not immediate. My original passion was criminal law because I loved advocacy, close client relationships and the sense of justice. However, after work experience, I realised it was more emotionally heavy than I was prepared for
I explored employment law, media and entertainment law and residential real estate. Over time, I developed an interest in how businesses operate and how business, the economy, and international relations are interconnected. Commercial law offers variety, intellectual challenge and many opportunities. I am not yet sure which area I will specialise in, but I look forward to exploring 4 different areas during my training contract.
How did you decide you wanted to complete your training contract at Linklaters?
I never saw myself at a Magic Circle firm. I assumed they were for people who went to private school, attended Russell Group universities, and didn't look like me. With that image in mind, I looked elsewhere.
Everything changed when I attended diversity events at Linklaters. This led me to an October 2018 event called Breaking Barriers in the Legal Profession. The firm's commitment to diversity sparked my interest.
I became increasingly drawn to the firm's clients, deals, and national capabilities. Having studied in Canada, I wanted a career involving multi‑jurisdictional work. After applying for the vacation scheme in October 2020, I was persuaded by the one‑team culture and how easy it was to communicate with senior associates and partners. The praise I received during the scheme made me feel seen and appreciated. I knew Linklaters was the right place for me.
What advice would you give applicants preparing for vacation scheme and training contract interviews?
If I had to give 3 pieces of advice, they would be research, practise and network.
Research: Conduct thorough research on the firm. Know why you want to work there, what they are doing in the market, who their clients are and what differentiates them from competitors.
Practise: Go through standard interview questions and practise your answers out loud. Confidence helps you communicate clearly and show your personality. The Corporate Law Academy has a list of more than 100 questions.
Network: Speak to people at the firm. Reach out to future trainees, current trainees and lawyers at all levels. Their insight will help you understand the firm and demonstrate your commitment during interviews.
How did your experience as a paralegal help you secure your training contract, and how can applicants use similar experience to their advantage?
My paralegal experience helped me develop skills such as client communication, drafting, time management, commercial awareness and teamwork. I could clearly demonstrate these skills in applications and interviews.
My 4 years as a paralegal also showed me that pursuing commercial law in private practice was the right decision. I can contrast this with my experiences in criminal law, the barrister profession, and in‑house teams, explaining why those areas weren't right for me. Firms invest heavily in trainees, so they want reassurance that you will stay after qualification.
Applicants should list all transferable skills gained from their experience. Identify your responsibilities, achievements and targets. Then compare these with the skills the firm says it wants in trainees. Throughout the application process, focus on demonstrating how your experience aligns with their expectations.
What advice would you give applicants on how to stand out during a vacation scheme?
Vacation schemes are a chance to learn about the firm and show why you're a strong fit for the training contract.
Prepare: Review all information from the recruitment team, update your research and prepare your commercial awareness.
Commercial awareness: Display commercial awareness throughout the scheme and interview. Start developing it early.
Networking: Network with other vacation schemers and arrange one‑to‑one coffee chats with people at the firm. They want to see enthusiasm, proactivity and strong interpersonal skills.
High standard of work: Complete all tasks to a high standard. Your work forms a major part of your assessment.
I have 10 more vacation scheme tips on my Instagram and YouTube channel.
Why did you decide to start your Instagram page, @legallydiverse, and what have you gained from running it?
I created Legally Diverse to help aspiring solicitors achieve their goals more quickly than I did. Rejections knocked my confidence and made me question whether law was right for me. I wanted to provide helpful content on the recruitment process and motivational messages to encourage others.s
I also run Q&A sessions with legal professionals so aspiring lawyers can learn about different practice areas and gain insight into the profession. The best part is the feedback. People message me saying my posts helped them secure interviews, vacation schemes or training contracts. Knowing I helped someone reach their goal makes everything worthwhile. I believe God allowed me to struggle during my own journey so that once I reached my goal, I could help others reach theirs.
If there is one piece of advice you could offer to students applying for training contracts, what would it be?
Tailor your application form and cover letter. If any part can be copied and pasted into an application for another firm, it is not specific enough.
For commercial awareness questions, choose topics linked to the firm's cases or practice areas. For "why this firm", reference specific events you attended, conversations with lawyers, deals, clients, market position or training structure. Replacing the firm's name with a competitor's isn't enough.
The only questions that may not change much are "why law" and "why commercial law", as these relate to "our personal journey"—best of luck.
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