Nancy j.
About me
| Nancy j. | |
| History | |
| History | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Wentworth | |
| 1981 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Solicitor | |
| Law Firm | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Legal services |
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A day in the life of a Solicitor in the United Kingdom
Work experience is more important now than when I graduated but for a career in any commercial business its important to keep up with the news and read up about business life
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I work in the corporate team in the London office of a large US law firm
What do you do?
I started after law school as a trainee and then transactional lawyer in a magic circle firm in central London and now work as a professional support lawyer supporting the corporate team at my current firm with technical know-how and training.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I became interested in the law while still at university but having got a job in my third year I worked for a year in the civil service before deciding to leave and go back to studying. I then went for two years to law school before starting as a trainee solicitor.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
I trained in the City and have stayed in corporate work area but had not decided on this when I started at law school.
Describe your most memorable day at work
still remember the first time I saw a deal I'd worked on being reported in the press and that it felt exciting. Now I spend more time helping other people do their work and keep up to date.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
long hours, busy days but well paid
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
some sport, some positions of responsibility - good to do things you enjoy that you can also use once you graduate to demonstrate you have the attributes sought out by a potential employer.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
work experience is more important now than when I graduated but for a career in any commercial business its important to keep up with the news and read up about business life so it's something you can talk about. Everyone knows making applications for training contracts is time consuming but in a competitive market you will likely need to make many applications and not be put off if you get a rejection early on. Employers are looking for potential not the finished product but that does not mean they will not notice spelling and grammar mistakes when they sift applications.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
anything about a legal career
Next steps...
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