Interview with a Future Trainee Solicitor: Navigating an International Path into Law

Would you please start by briefly sharing your background and journey into law?

My journey into law has been unique and hectic. During my A Levels, I wanted to do something different, and because I have an Irish passport, I could study in the EU. I applied to UK universities through UCAS and also applied to Groningen University in the Netherlands, which I ultimately chose.

My lecturers were often former European Parliamentary advisors or people who had worked for the European Commission, so the teaching was exceptional. For Erasmus, I returned to the UK to study in Newcastle, partly because I was homesick and partly because I wanted exposure to common law. By the time I graduated, I had a strong grounding in civil, common and European law.

Securing a vacation scheme was difficult, largely because my degree was from the Netherlands. To broaden my options, I applied for Queen Mary's LLM in Corporate and Commercial Law and was accepted. Then COVID hit, and finding a job became almost impossible. I worked at WHSmith's and later as a teaching assistant. Suddenly, a friend who had trained at Clifford Chance told me about an opportunity on her company's deals team. I used that role to transition into a paralegal position, which I held for about a year.

Things became turbulent again when I secured a training contract and resigned. Neither the firm nor I realised that my Dutch degree caused issues with their feeder university, so they revoked my contract. I felt back at square one. Eventually, I secured a paralegal role at an international law firm, gained a place on their vacation scheme and now have a training contract with them. In my eyes, everything happens for a reason. Losing my first training contract led me to where I am now.

How did interning at a barristers' chambers shape your skillset?

That internship happened by pure fate. I interned with a former Justice of the Court of Appeal and one of my professors. I emailed him about arbitration opportunities, and he offered me an internship right away.

I worked on two major arbitrations with him. Every day was incredible and gave me a real insight into how commercial law operates in practice. The second arbitration was particularly engaging. There were three arbitrators, all former senior officials in the courts of England and Wales. I sat in breakout rooms with them and listened to their discussions about the case and their approach to decision-making. It was invaluable.

The experience taught me the importance of being analytical, patient, and people-focused. It also confirmed that this was the career for me. At the same time, it made me realise the Bar wasn't the right fit. Many of the individuals I worked with were commercial solicitors, and their stories fascinated me. I felt that being a barrister required a degree of emotional attachment that didn't suit me. I am an emotional person, and I did not want that level of attachment. I have always been more drawn to the solicitor route, and arbitration solidified that.

Would you recommend working as a paralegal before starting a training contract or qualifying work experience?

Absolutely. Many people want to break into law as quickly as possible by securing a training contract straight after university. That is not always possible, and sometimes you have to wait your turn. I recommend working as a paralegal above all else. The exposure is unbelievable.

At the firm where I am now a trainee, their aviation team usually doesn't use paralegals. Because I am fluent in Arabic, they interviewed me specifically and offered me a designated paralegal role. It was brilliant.

I have worked both in-house and in private practice. My private practice experience was more rewarding. I gained more knowledge as an aviation paralegal than during my LLB and LLM combined. I dealt with clients daily, and my team pushed me by giving me tasks normally handled by trainees or newly qualified solicitors.

Many people feel they should have a training contract lined up immediately. However, paralegal experience makes you a better lawyer. It gives you insight into what being a trainee involves, builds confidence and helps you act more rationally in the role. It is a fantastic way to confirm that you want to work in the corporate sector and understand what to expect.

You worked as an in-house paralegal and then at an international law firm. How did these experiences differ? Were there any highlights that shaped your perspective?

In-house work is completely different from private practice. In-house work is about client exposure, how you represent yourself and how you present the company. Teams are collaborative, the work quality is strong, and the work-life balance can be excellent.

Private practice felt more rewarding. The work was more complex, requiring stronger time management and analytical skills. The range of work was also broader. The in-house company I worked for focused on M&A and commercial matters. In private practice, I was exposed to a wider range of sectors and practice areas, which deepened my training.

You recently completed a vacation scheme and accepted a training contract. What advice would you give to students going through the application process?

The best advice I received is that the number one rule when writing an application is to be different. Not different from everyone else, but different from one application to the next. Never copy and paste. Each application should be unique because every firm is unique. A generic application can hinder your long-term progression.

Be different, be innovative, be unique and show clearly why you are a good fit.