From a late decision to study law to becoming a partner at Slaughter and May, Lorna Nsoatabe shares how embracing opportunities, valuing people, and staying optimistic have shaped her journey

I wasn’t particularly set on law from a young age,” admits Lorna Nsoatabe, partner at Slaughter and May. During her A-levels, she leaned towards studying medicine before a final decision to study law at university. She enjoyed her degree but hadn’t yet decided what she’d like to do after graduating. What she did know was that she wanted a job involving people, teamwork, and challenge. Seeing many peers apply to commercial law firms, she decided to give it a go — reasoning that it would tick those boxes and make good use of her degree. “I applied, without a huge amount of thought about what’s going to happen in 10 years, but more just, I think I’ll enjoy the immediate life as a trainee and hopefully be good at it,” she recalls.

That leap of faith paid off. Nsoatabe began her training contract with the firm in 2012, gaining experience across corporate, financing, competition, real estate and Disputes and Investigations. It was her competition seat that clicked, and she qualified into the group in 2015. Looking back, she says her progression wasn’t pre-planned but the result of seizing opportunities — she worked hard so that “when the next step came, I was ready to take it.”

But why competition? She loved the team, describing a supportive department where everyone worked hard but “didn’t take themselves too seriously” — the mix of humour, humility and excellence was very appealing. The work also appealed. “I wanted to use my law degree while also understanding how clients work and explore the business side of things — even using my maths a little bit.” It combined legal analysis, commercial awareness, and a touch of economics and policy. She “really likes the mix of that business, law and economics” and found that combination “just worked for me.”

Competition also appealed because it is a ‘people’ practice area. “It’s a real people department,” she tells Legal Cheek Careers, involving constant interaction with business teams, in-house counsel, boards and CEOs — an aspect she still enjoys. Years on, her favourite part of the job remains “the people aspect” above all.

To succeed in competition law, Nsoatabe emphasises the importance of the human element as much as the technical. Strong legal skills are essential, but so are communication skills and common sense. “Can you get clients to talk to you and share what’s concerning them? Share what they really want to happen so you can help them make it happen?” she asks. Building trust enables you to truly help the client, while good judgment and pragmatism are key to finding sensible paths forward.

Shifting to the firm, she highlights the appeal of Slaughter and May’s multi-specialist approach. Lawyers at the firm aren’t confined to narrow specialisms; instead, they work across a broad practice area, handling the wide range of matters within it. This ethos brings variety — “nothing is boring, you get genuinely new things every day” — and the challenge of constantly pushing beyond your comfort zone. While this is not for everyone, she explains that “there are real benefits for our lawyers, who develop excellent legal skills and our clients who work with lawyers able to support them on a range of matters”.

This breadth fosters collaboration. “We rely on our colleagues to share their expertise,” she explains. People readily call each other for advice, creating a “really supportive” and notably uncompetitive environment where, as she puts it, “we talk to each other, instead of competing”.

Another distinctive feature is Slaughter and May’s international approach. Rather than a large global network, the firm partners with the leading independent firms in each jurisdiction. This model “encourages us to communicate really well” and consistently deliver excellent work so that each overseas partner “thinks, ‘yes, I want to work with the firm again’”. Clients, in turn, benefit from seamless, high-quality service across multiple jurisdictions.

For Nsoatabe, the multi-specialist philosophy keeps her work exciting. “If my client has any issue across the whole realm of what Competition law involves, I’m able to help,” she explains. That means continually encountering unique legal scenarios and learning new skills, but also developing a really in-depth understanding of her clients. This broad base also sharpens her as an adviser when it comes to spotting potential issues which may impact a client.

Now over a decade into her career, she notes the fundamentals have stayed the same as she rose from trainee to partner — but expectations evolve. As a junior, everything was new but as a senior, you’re expected to handle the unfamiliar with confidence. Even so, new things still come across her desk, and the firm’s training equips lawyers at all levels to tackle “cutting-edge issues no one’s seen before”.

Outside client work, Nsoatabe has championed diversity and inclusion. As an associate, she spent nearly seven years chairing the firm’s diversity network, which celebrates and promotes racial and ethnic diversity. Now, as a partner, she continues as the group’s sponsoring partner, mentoring leaders and advocating for the network in management. “I’m there in a supportive capacity and as a sounding board,” she says. The mission is to “make the firm better, make it more inclusive — a working environment in which anyone, irrespective of your background, can develop and thrive.”

One of the network’s highlights is the annual Carnival event — a celebration inspired by the Caribbean carnival, with music, food, steel drums, and a talk about Carnival’s history. The event brings colleagues together for fun and learning, becoming a highlight of the year. What Nsoatabe finds most rewarding is seeing young colleagues take the lead. Trainees, junior associates and others across the non-legal teams, are encouraged to run events and bring ideas to life. Empowering junior staff has been “a really lovely thing,” she says, and cites witnessing their enthusiasm and success as her proudest achievement.

Nsoatabe believes diversity networks are much more than just PR. They foster inclusion and belonging, which in turn boosts young lawyer’s confidence. “You meet people who are like you, who think like you, who have had the same experiences as you… you have that space to have a conversation, to discuss things that might be difficult or challenging for you,” she explains. They also drive practical change by advising HR and leadership on cultural considerations or current events impacting colleagues. Having a dedicated group for these issues ensures “genuine change and impact can happen”.

Looking at the wider profession, Nsoatabe is hopeful but realistic. “We’ve seen a huge amount of growth in the last 10 years,” she notes, but there’s more to do before the profession truly reflects people from all backgrounds. Her wish is simple: that progress continues so that, in 10 or 15 years, diversity is “just a given” and every organisation knows how to create an inclusive workspace.

As we wrap up, she offers advice for aspiring lawyers. Firstly, enjoy it. “I think it can be a really great job and a really rewarding job,” she says. “Lean into enjoying it and try and have the best time possible”. Take up opportunities, get involved, and “put your hand up for things”. That said, if something isn’t right, don’t simply give up. Instead, speak up and try to make it better: “If you’re not enjoying it, or there’s something that you think can be done differently, try and make a bit of change.” In her experience, people are often receptive: “oh yes, you’re entirely right, we haven’t thought about that, how can we do better?”

Finally, she urges an optimistic mindset. Every generation faces challenges, but “being positive about your own career and about what you want from it, is a much better place to be than just worrying about it. Work hard, stay positive, and never forget the people around you.”

Lorna Nsoatabe will be speaking at ‘What does a world of difference look like? With Slaughter and May’, a virtual student event taking place Tuesday 16 September. Secure your place now.

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Legal Cheek Careers speaks with Clyde & Co’s Tom Bedford about his work in professional negligence and regulatory defence, and what it’s like to represent solicitors accused of wrongdoing

Tom Bedford, a specialist in professional negligence and regulatory defence at Clyde & Co, began his career as a junior lawyer acting for banks in negligence claims against solicitors and surveyors. After a couple of years, however, he “fancied switching sides.” “I didn’t love the idea of suing my own profession,” he laughs. He moved into defence work, representing solicitors facing claims and regulatory investigations — a decision that has shaped his career for more than a decade.

Bedford’s path into this area of the law was not one he originally planned. As a law student, he considered becoming a family lawyer but quickly realised that line of work wasn’t for him. “I don’t think this is for me,” he recalls thinking, after finding the area “very emotionally challenging”. However, he knew he wanted a “people-focused” career in law. During his training contract at Eversheds, he gained experience across a range of practice areas, but by the time he qualified in 2009, Bedford had discovered a passion for litigation. “I liked the idea of representing other people’s interests,” he says, noting that every case carried a compelling human story behind it.

When Bedford qualified during the financial crisis, he was faced with a choice between employment law and professional negligence. He opted for the latter and hasn’t looked back. “I thought the work was very varied and interesting — there are so many different things that can go wrong,” he says of what drew him to professional indemnity work. Defending lawyers also meant working with legally savvy clients. “You’re reporting to people who get it,” he explains, pointing out that his clients — often fellow solicitors or their insurers — understand the legal process, allowing for “a really nice, sensible conversation” instead of lengthy explanations. He enjoyed feeling part of a close-knit sector — being “part of a club” within the wider legal world.

Bedford’s practice today spans both defending negligence claims and representing lawyers in disciplinary proceedings. “My job is nice because it’s quite varied,” he tells me, describing how he divides his time between fighting cases and broader responsibilities like client training, mentoring junior lawyers and even helping with the management of the firm. “I love the variety that I have now in my job,” he adds.

After more than a decade at his previous firm, Bedford joined Clyde & Co 14 months ago as partner in the firm’s Bristol office. “No firm can offer globally what Clyde & Co can offer on solicitors’ liability. Clydes essentially wrote the book on this area!” he says of the insurance law giant’s appeal. Another big draw was the firm’s entrepreneurial culture. “If you want to do something, it can be done. No one’s going to stop you unless it’s something really mad,” Bedford laughs. With its strong reputation and high standards, the firm has given him an ideal platform to further grow his practice.

I ask Bedford what qualities make a good lawyer in his specialist area. Unsurprisingly, he emphasises the importance of empathy and strong communication. Professional negligence and regulatory cases can be intensely personal for the clients involved. “Particularly in the regulatory aspect of my practice, I’m acting for individuals who may be facing career-damaging sanctions,” he explains. “People think solicitors are tough cookies but for anybody these are extremely stressful situations to deal with.” Bedford sees his role as not only handling the legal complexities but also supporting his clients through the ordeal. “You should be providing pastoral support because you want to put your clients in the best possible position to defend themselves,” he says. “On a human level, no matter what someone’s done, they’re entitled to be represented, and they deserve that support.”

Equally, building trust is crucial. “It’s never left me that it’s such a huge privilege to be asked to advise people about something that is really important to them – their business or their career,” Bedford reflects. Earning that privilege means fostering strong relationships. He finds common ground with clients and reassures them through clear, frank communication. “You want people, if they have that problem again, to come back to you,” he says, adding that being approachable and honest is key to encouraging that loyalty.

Having solicitors as clients puts Bedford in a somewhat unusual position – one with distinct advantages and a few challenges. “Solicitors make great clients because they understand the job I’m doing and I understand theirs,” he notes. However, the flip side is that a legally trained client will quickly spot any lack of expertise. “You have to know what you’re talking about, because if you don’t you’ll quickly be found out,” Bedford cautions. He advises junior lawyers never to bluff. If he doesn’t know something, he’ll readily admit it and go find the answer. “Saying ‘I don’t know, but I’ll go away and look at it’ is definitely the best course of action to build trust with clients,” he says. Another test for young lawyers in this field can be managing ego. Without independent experts to call upon in solicitor negligence cases, it often falls to Bedford and his colleagues to tell a fellow lawyer — sometimes one far more senior — that they’ve made a mistake. “When you’re junior and you’re saying to somebody much older than you, ‘Actually I think you’ve made a mistake,’ it can be quite difficult,” he admits. “But there are ways to do it.” The key, he stresses, is to “lean on those same communication and relationship skills to navigate the situation.”

He has also noticed the profession itself being held to higher account. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has sharpened its focus on lawyers’ personal conduct outside work, he says, which is leading to more disciplinary cases from off-duty missteps. Bedford reminds juniors that solicitors hold a “special position in society” — “it’s not just any kind of commercial job,” as he points out — and predicts such scrutiny will only increase. “I think we will see more and more of that,” he adds.

As our conversation draws to a close, I ask Bedford for one final piece of careers advice for those starting out. “Be yourself,” is his response. He acknowledges that the hunt for training contracts and junior roles is “hugely competitive”, so it’s natural to want to put your best foot forward — but he insists that authenticity is paramount. “Some people will love you and some people won’t,” Bedford says. “If you’re completely yourself and you’re not successful [with an application], then probably you wouldn’t be happy there — you’re not the right fit.” And if you do find a place that appreciates the real you? “If you go in authentically and the firm likes you, I think it’s a recipe for success — and for happiness,” he finishes.

Tom Bedford will appear on the panel at ‘Ethics and the law – with Clyde & Co’, a virtual student event taking place TOMORROW (Tuesday 9 September). Apply now to attend.

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ULaw SQE student Layla Qazi on her journey from history graduate and tax consultant to future trainee

Future Taylor Wessing trainee Layla Qazi didn’t set out to be a lawyer from day one. She read history because she loved the subject and liked the flexibility of converting later, and she always had law in mind.

“I was so happy to get in,” she says of studying history at Oxford, adding that the subject isn’t “so divorced from law that it’s not really a difficult adjustment.” But as a non-law undergrad, she quickly realised the profession doesn’t necessarily come to you. “As a non-law student, you have to go out and seek things a lot more,” she says. She missed out on first-year insight schemes, simply unaware of them as a history student. The silver lining? “There are so many different entry points now and it’s great if you do a first-year insight scheme, but it’s not necessary to get a training contract.”

In her second year and beyond, she became a fixture at law fairs and networking events. “I don’t even think I could count how many I went to. I went to so, so many,” she laughs. Fairs can feel like speed networking, but even a few minutes with a couple of trainees gives you something real to reference later — and sometimes you discover a firm you’d never thought about.

Off the back of that she joined the university’s commercial law society and moved from attendee to organiser, sitting on the sponsorships committee and emailing graduate recruitment, setting up panels and chatting to trainees. Seeing “the other side of it” made those application form staples much easier. The dreaded “why this firm?” stops being so difficult when you’ve spoken on a more personal level with the firm about team sizes, the support trainees get and which seats are on offer.

Qazi stresses that there’s no single trick to success but focusing on what genuinely interested her and being honest about the fit really helped. She knew early on that the sectors drawing her in were tech and life sciences. That guided her research and helped her craft a consistent story across applications and interviews. “You can dive into your specific interests and create a bit of a story for the ‘why law’ and the ‘why this firm’ question,” she says.

She also drew on “unorthodox” experiences to evidence her skills. In one application she wrote about helping run her university roller-skating society. It was small when she started, but after she convinced a few friends to join, she and the committee grew it into something much bigger. “It’s so random, but honestly the non-traditional stuff really does stick out if you can show that you’ve got a bit of personality and drive.” The lesson, she says: you don’t have to be president of the law society to have something interesting to say. “I worked the Next Boxing Day sale,” she jokes. “That will teach you something about resilience. Honestly.” And that’s what firms are looking for.

Between university and law school, Qazi took what many would see as a detour: a year as a tax consultant at EY. It turned out to be a perfect primer for vacation schemes and, soon enough, a training contract. “The biggest thing for me is confidence,” she says. Coming into vac schemes after time in a corporate environment meant she wasn’t fazed by writing to clients or speaking up in meetings. “You’ll have to do things like presentations to partners and I’m like, ‘I’m just going to pretend this is my manager.’” Perhaps most importantly, it sharpened her writing style. History essays and client emails are different beasts; in practice “you still have to analyse things but with a view to an answer… it’s got to have your client in mind.”

Her tax job turbo-charged her commercial awareness, too. Anticipating the impact of the government’s annual budget or changes to the ‘non-dom’ tax regime, and thinking about how these changes would impact her clients, soon became second nature. Building on that foundation, she developed a daily habit of reading newsletters like Finimize and scanning the Financial Times — which made the buzzword “commercial awareness” far less daunting.

From there, she dug deeper into a handful of topics she genuinely cared about, turning to law firm podcasts and sector reports that translate abstract headlines into client issues. Those bridges from “news” to “what does this mean for this client and our firm?” are, she points out, exactly what interview case studies probe. Picking news topics she found genuinely engaging — tech and life sciences — kept the routine sustainable and the conversations authentic.

Vacation schemes confirmed law was the right path for her, securing spots at Osborne Clarke, Pennington Manches Cooper, Cooley, and of course Taylor Wessing. When asked about her favourite practice areas so far, she says every seat has had its own highlights.

At Taylor Wessing, she especially enjoyed the breadth of her seats, ranging from banking and finance to tech, IP and information. “Broad teams,” she explains, “let trainees explore and find a niche without feeling pigeonholed too early.” That open-mindedness extends to qualification, too: when friends ask her what type of lawyer she’ll be, she replies wherever the work and the seats take her.

With her training contract at Taylor Wessing secured, Qazi began her transition from historian to lawyer with The University of Law. She has just completed her PGDL and will be sitting her SQE exams there over the next year. “The PGDL course at ULaw did a great job of starting things from the basics and building different concepts up,” she explains. “The structure of the course meant it was never overwhelming … I feel very confident going into the SQE having had the ULaw PGDL as a foundation.” Converting from history to law is a sprint through core subjects; doing it within ULaw’s structured programme, with clear materials and a supportive teaching team, made the leap feel manageable.

Looking ahead, she says: “The course has definitely developed my critical analysis abilities and encouraged me to think about academic concepts from a practical perspective. Next summer … the SQE Plus part will let me explore different practice areas ahead of starting my TC.” Having already endured long stretches of exams — first at university, then as a tax consultant, and now with the PGDL and SQE — she’s eager for the finish line. “What am I most looking forward to? Finishing the SQE,” she laughs. “Exam-free” life can’t come soon enough.

If she could advise her first-year self, she’d start with reassurance: follow your interests, build skills, then learn to frame them in a lawyerly light. “I was so surprised the roller-skating thing went down so well!”. The point isn’t to collect a checklist of “law-only” experiences. It’s to show initiative, teamwork, time management and resilience — the qualities firms look for in trainees. Whether it’s building a university society from scratch, surviving a Boxing Day rush at Next or presenting to senior people at work, every experience counts if you can draw out the skills. “Relax and do what you want to do,” she says, “but also do law stuff as well.” That balance has kept her motivated — and made her applications feel personal rather than generic.

For students starting out, her advice is straightforward. Meet as many firms as you can early on — at fairs, talks and virtual events — rather than relying solely on what’s on their websites. Think carefully about the sectors and environments you’ll thrive in, then build your narrative around that. Make use of university and law school resources: newsletters you’ll actually read, podcasts you’ll actually listen to, and reports that translate abstract headlines into challenges and opportunities for clients. At the same time, pursue the passions and interests that genuinely appeal to you — non-legal experiences are just as important. And if your path isn’t linear, that’s fine. A year in industry can make you calmer, clearer and more client-focused when you eventually step through a firm’s doors.

With her PGDL completed at ULaw and the SQE ahead this year, she’s now closing out the study phase and looking forward to day one at Taylor Wessing. The destination hasn’t changed since those early career talks, she’s simply taken the route that made the most sense for her — and picked up a toolkit along the way that will let her hit the ground running when client work begins.

Legal Cheek Live in London takes place in-person NEXT WEEK on Thursday, 11 September. The afternoon features a series of careers and commercial awareness workshops delivered by top law firms as well as a careers fair featuring early talent and graduate recruitment teams. Register to attend now.

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Taylor Wessing’s Emma Danks discusses the evolution of private equity, the firm’s ambitious culture, and her advice for aspiring solicitors

“There’s a huge amount of ambition here and no complacency,” says Emma Danks, head of the UK corporate group at Taylor Wessing, reflecting on what drew her to the firm 15 years ago. After over a decade at a Magic Circle firm, Danks joined Taylor Wessing in 2010 to help grow its then-burgeoning private equity practice. “It was very attractive to join a team that was growing and ambitious,” she recalls. Fifteen years on, she hasn’t looked back.

Qualifying in 2001, Danks cut her teeth amid the mid-2000s private equity boom, and later weathered the 2007-2008 global financial crisis that reshaped the market. The post-crisis landscape sparked her interest in the mid-market segment, making Taylor Wessing’s more entrepreneurial platform an appealing next step. Now a senior partner, she leads the firm’s corporate practice and advises on private equity transactions day-to-day. Danks acts for private equity sponsors on buyouts and private M&A deals, as well as for the management teams of PE-backed companies — a mix that gives her “a really nice view of the whole market,” she notes.

While Danks was initially drawn by Taylor Wessing’s growing private equity practice, it’s “the energy and the entrepreneurial spirit” which is keeping her at the firm 15 years later. The firm is full of “very bright lawyers who are driven to do the best job they can for their clients and to win more market share,” she tells me. This ambitious but collaborative ethos means there’s little room for egos. In short, it’s a “really high performance but friendly place to be.”

Early in her career, Danks found herself drawn to transactional work. “There is a particular inclination most lawyers have, either towards transactional, advisory or disputes work,” she says. For her, deals hold a special appeal because “you’re creating something” for the client rather than fighting an opponent in court. She enjoys digging into the commercial drivers behind a transaction — understanding what the business does and why a deal matters to a client — and collaborating with the other side to reach an agreement (while still “protecting your client’s position,” of course). Delivering a deal that is important to a client brings “a real sense of satisfaction and professional pride,” Danks says.

When Danks qualified as a private equity lawyer, the industry looked very different. “It’s a more sophisticated asset class today”, she notes, with deal structures far more complex than 25 years ago. “There is a wider range and number of private equity funds. So they’ve got different styles of investing,” Danks explains. “25 years ago, it might have been more of a classic ‘we will acquire a majority and hold it for three to five years and then we’ll sell it’ situation. Whereas now you have funds wanting a longer hold period or they might acquire just a minority, which then requires a different negotiating style.” Private equity has also entered the public consciousness as PE firms have acquired household-name brands, she adds, and its techniques have “influenced the broader M&A market in lots of different ways.”

This constant evolution is part of the appeal of private equity for Danks. “I never wanted to get to a stage in my career where I think, ‘I can do this in my sleep,’” she laughs. The ever-changing nature of the private equity space means she is always learning and adapting. That can be frustrating at times, she admits, but it suits lawyers who are “intellectually curious” and like to be challenged — and for her it’s “a really enjoyable part of the job.”

I ask Danks whether one deal in particular stands out in her memory. “I would say one of the standout career highs for me was a deal we did in 2019,” she responds. The Taylor Wessing team advised the private equity arm of Standard Chartered on its spin-out from the bank into a new independent fund. “We were working with brilliant clients. They were at the top of their game, really bright. It was personally very important to them as well because they were creating a whole new fund,” Danks recalls. Complex deals like this don’t get off the ground without some serious hard work, of course: “We were in the trenches all together,” Danks recalls, describing weeks of intense negotiations as lawyers from multiple firms hammered out the terms. A “real career highlight”, the deal landed Danks’ team “Private Equity Team of the Year” at that year’s British Legal Awards. It was also a roaring success for her clients: “They successfully spun out of the bank and have been a very successful private equity fund in their own right – I’ve actually just had the invitation through for their sixth anniversary celebration!” she tells me.

Today, the market presents new challenges. The past few years have been “turbulent,” as Danks puts it. A post-pandemic surge of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in 2021 gave way to a slowdown as interest rates rose and political and economic uncertainty made many businesses cautious about making significant investments. “Markets like stability,” Danks says. “Changes of government around the world and US tariffs early this year have meant a lot of dealmakers have paused to let everything settle. However, although the volume of deals has dipped, I’ve found the deals which have happed have been more high value.” And there have been certain sectors bucking the trend. Tech and life sciences assets “have continued to be really competitive.” She shows particular excitement around artificial intelligence, where acquiring an AI-driven company can be a “fast-track” for traditional businesses — why spend years developing a new technology in-house “when you can buy a company that’s already done it”?

In this uncertain climate, lawyers have a crucial role in helping clients navigate deals. Danks sees her job as twofold: first, offering clients a broad perspective on market “commercials” gleaned from her experience across many transactions. Her team works on far more deals each year than any single client, so “they like us to give some market insights,” she explains. Second, a good lawyer will “future-proof” agreements to withstand whatever arises from the counterparty or the wider business environment in the months and years to come.

Before wrapping up, I ask Danks what career advice she would give to her younger self or a new trainee. She recommends gaining as broad experience as possible and being unafraid to question things. “Take time to get as much experience as you can,” she advises, “and always try to look into the corners of every issue — maintain an intellectual curiosity at all times.”

Emma Danks will be speaking on the panel at Legal Cheek’s upcoming virtual student event ‘Inside the global dynamics of M&A — with Taylor Wessing’, taking place virtually on Wednesday 24 September. Apply now to attend.

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Clifford Chance lawyer Alex Panayides reflects on his career journey and the exciting work he has undertaken along the way

“I came to Britain at the age of eight, having left Cyprus as a refugee when Turkey invaded in 1974,” says Alex Panayides, dispute resolution partner at Clifford Chance. Speaking over fifty years later, Panayides has built a career studded with high-profile cases. From insurance litigation following the 9/11 attacks, to the controversies around the Qatar World Cup 2022, to litigating the salvage rights to the wreck of RMS “TITANIC” — the list is impressive.

A Clifford Chance ‘lifer’, the firm first caught Panayides’ attention during his second year at university. Reading law at Oxford University — but “without any firm intention to become a lawyer” — Panayides recalls “one of my rare visits to the college library” during which he discovered “fellow law students filling in application forms for what were then called articles, now training contracts.” With Britain’s economy in decline in the early 1990s and graduate jobs scarce, he sent out a few speculative applications in the hope of securing a role.

Clifford Chance “stood out” because of its international outlook. “At that time, the firm was expanding into Europe when the majority of London firms were very, or in fact exclusively, UK focused,” Panayides explains — an attractive prospect for a globally-minded student. Training contract secured, he joined Clifford Chance, became a partner in 2002 and, 30-something years later after joining the firm, he’s still there. He is a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution practice, leads the firm’s oi & gas disputes practice and the disputes practice in Africa.

During his training, Panayides sampled a range of practice areas — property, banking, even a stint in New York — but it was the firm’s shipping department that ultimately hooked him. “It was awesome, frankly,” he tells me. “I did all kinds of fun work that was in the news and enormous amounts of travelling.” In the pre-email era, Panayides had to get to where the work was, spending much of his time as a young lawyer working from shipyards around the world, from Singapore to Brazil to Mississippi. This was “a wonderful way to learn”, not least as he was able to get a taste of an “extremely unusual” mixture of transactional and disputes work.

Later in his career Panayides chose to focus full-time on disputes. I am keen to know what it was about contentious work that appeals to him. “Because I find it perpetually interesting and varied,” he replies. “No two disputes have been the same, and I still learn something new every day”. Over the course of his career Panayides has tackled “the sorts of problems that people don’t believe can be solved.” Illustrating this point, he jumps back into one matter in particular: “I spent about 10 years arguing about whether 9/11 was an act of war, or an act of terrorism,” he tells me, “which of course had enormous repercussions in numerous contexts, including insurance and finance” Panayides found himself “navigating law and politics on a topic that was not just in the headlines; it was the headline for so long.” Commuting back and forth from New York “on some occasions on Concorde” was also “extremely exciting for a relatively young lawyer.”

Another career highlight he singles out is a pro bono project for Save the Children which held a deeply personal resonance. “Save the Children decided, with exceptional ambition, to procure, crew and deploy a rescue ship to pick up refugees in the Mediterranean.” The project came off in record time: “It was an amazing success,” Panayides reflects. He recalls that “Save the Children, when I started working with them on this, didn’t know that I myself had been a child refugee who had crossed the Mediterranean in a small boat some years previously — for them that was just mind-blowing.”

With a career spent at the sharp end of global disputes, Panayides has witnessed first-hand how world events can upend the business landscape. I ask what key geopolitical issues are occupying his clients right now. “If one had to distil everything that’s going on into one word, it would be ‘uncertainty’,” he replies. That uncertainty, he explains, is the most “challenging thing for markets and governments because it chills investment decisions and can cloud the intentions and plans of politicians”. US trade tariffs, China’s developing global ambitions, conflict in Europe and the Middle East have all contributed to the volatile environment. For clients trying to navigate these choppy waters, this is “obviously extremely challenging”. We live in an age of information overload — “there is much more data and information and insight available to any of us with a computer than at any previous time in history,” Panayides says. This “puts a real premium on the skills required to declutter an issue and really understand what’s going on at its core”.

Even having just scratched the surface of Panayides’ career it’s not hard to see why he finds the work engaging, but there are two other key factors which mean he loves his job: the firm’s people, and its culture. “We’re not at all hierarchical. We like to have a laugh even in the challenging and difficult moments,” he says. “It’s always a team effort.”

As we wrap up our discussion, I am keen to hear Panayides’ advice for aspiring lawyers. “Keep an open mind,” he says. “The training contract is a wonderful opportunity to experience lots of different kinds of law.” He would discourage law students from having a rigid idea of where they want to qualify. “Have an idea by all means,” he says, “but when you start rotating through the practice areas, give your best effort in all of them because you might surprise yourself about what you actually enjoy. And choosing an area you find genuinely stimulating is crucial: “The demands can be immense,” Panayides admits, “but it’s amazing how hard you can work and still be cheerful if what you’re doing is what you enjoy.”

Alex Panayides will be speaking on the panel at ‘Geopolitical risk, trade and the law — with Clifford Chance’, a hybrid student event taking place TOMORROW (Thursday 4 September). In-person spots are now fully-booked but you can still apply to attend virtually.

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Linklaters’ Shamin Choudhury, managing associate and co-head of the firm’s global sports sector group, discusses building a sports law niche at a Magic Circle firm, the legal and commercial forces shaping the sector, and his advice for aspiring sports lawyers

“We officially set up the sports practice in 2019,” recalls Shamin Choudhury, managing associate and co-head of Linklaters’ global sports sector group. He and a veteran partner spotted sports deals ballooning in value and complexity to the point a Magic Circle firm could add real value and apply global expertise. Armed with that insight and a passion for sport, Choudhury helped grow Linklaters’ sports law offering as a newly qualified solicitor — and he’s been at the heart of its growth ever since.

Choudhury, a former state school student who studied law at Warwick University, admits he “didn’t quite enjoy” the dry academic side of his degree until a practical law-and-business module hooked him and made him see a future as a solicitor. By graduation, he still hadn’t secured a training contract. Instead, he took six months to travel and worked briefly as a temporary paralegal at Goldman Sachs, an experience that gave him a glimpse of the finance world and how it operated.

He eventually landed a winter vacation scheme at Linklaters in late 2016, seated in structured finance — a department he jokes he “still doesn’t fully understand what every part of the team does” — which led to a training contract offer. During his training, Choudhury rotated through a series of transactional seats from banking to private equity, including a secondment in Dubai. “I always knew I was more of a transactional lawyer than a litigator,” he reflects. He qualified in March 2020 having just returned from secondment, just as Covid lockdowns hit which he says was an unusual start to life as a new associate.

Right as he qualified, an early mentor, partner Julian Davies, saw the sports sector on the cusp of something big. Sports deals were reaching sizes and levels of complexity where “it made sense for us to be involved,” Choudhury explains. So in 2019 Linklaters formed its dedicated sports sector team, with Davies spearheading and Choudhury handling much of the early legwork from the transactional side. What began as a speculative venture with an open “give it a go” mentality quickly gained momentum.

Choudhury continued his structured finance work (which often lent itself well to unique sports deals) even as sports mandates started to flow in. “We got a lot of mandates from various types of institutions in the sports space, and that’s where we really grew our practice,” he says of the early mix of sports-related M&A, regulatory and financing matters. In 2023, he spent nearly a year on secondment in New York, serving sports clients while further honing his finance skills. Having now worked in London, Dubai and New York, he brings a global perspective to the practice. Today, as co-head, he coordinates and works with a network of lawyers across the firm whenever a big sports deal comes in. “It’s not six or seven people sat in a corner doing sports work every day,” he points out. Instead, specialists from competition, litigation, corporate, finance and other teams assemble around each sports matter, marrying their expertise with a shared passion for the sector.

His client work is equally varied. One day might involve quietly chipping away at a long-running project; the next could bring urgent calls requiring quick thinking and reactive advice. “You’ve got to manage your day well,” Choudhury says, describing how he juggles steady deal work with ad hoc queries by setting priorities and pulling in colleagues as needed. Amid it all, he carves out time for business development, constantly looking for new opportunities and connections. He urges junior lawyers to do the same from early on: building confidence and a network is an ongoing part of the job, not something to leave until you’re senior.

Over the past few years, Choudhury has amassed an enviable roster of sports-related work. Much of it is confidential, but a few highlights can be shared. On the club side, he helped a long-term client go from minority ownership in 2021 to majority ownership of Norwich City FC by 2025. “We’ve assisted in the journey of acquiring a small piece to becoming the steward of the club,” he smiles, having guided the client through incremental share purchases and the maze of football regulations that come with club ownership. His team has also been involved in private equity investments across sports, including in league-based deals and media rights — though details remain under wraps. More recently, he’s advised on a deal spanning across women’s football, basketball, cricket with others in the practice advising in the fast-paced sphere of Formula 1. It’s an eclectic practice that, he jokes, makes his mainstream finance deals feel less exciting to others by comparison.

Choudhury sees a few major trends powering the sports law boom. “Women’s sport is front and centre for many now and represents a strong business opportunity,” he says, highlighting the surge in interest and investment in women’s leagues and clubs. Investment within and originating from the Arabian peninsula is another driver — countries in the region are pouring resources into sports at home and abroad, rapidly transforming the landscape. Then there’s the continued rise of competition law issues in sport. From breakaway leagues to clubs and players challenging regulations and laws, stakeholders are more alive than ever to their legal rights and increasingly willing to compete in legal forums. As deals get larger, “clubs, leagues and investors are getting more clued up about protecting their own interests,” he notes.

With these opportunities come challenges. One is the sheer volume of regulation: sports businesses must comply with layers of sporting rules on top of ordinary law. Another is bridging the cultural gap between traditional sports insiders and the finance-savvy investors now entering the arena. “These two groups have not typically worked closely together in the preceding decades,” Choudhury explains — and part of his job is translating between the passion of sport and the pragmatism of business. Finally, there’s often tension among stakeholders themselves. Sport is an inherently emotional investment, he notes. Owners who are fans at heart want to win trophies, which doesn’t always sit easily with the need for sustainable, profit-minded management of a pure business. Negotiating that balance is often important for a lawyer to understand — a rounded commercial view is a powerful tool for any lawyer, he notes.

For those keen on this field, Choudhury’s advice is straightforward. He emphasises that “sports law” isn’t a single defined discipline — “there’s no Sports Law Act,” he quips. Rather, it’s a collection of legal areas applied to a sports context. So focus on the aspect that excites you most — be it finance, regulation, media or something else – and get as much exposure to it as possible. That could mean writing about sports-related legal issues, volunteering with a sports organisation, or simply reading up extensively. Networking is also key. Choudhury encourages reaching out to people in the industry for insights — “nine times out of ten, they’ll say yes,” he notes — but he advises having a clear purpose when you do, rather than a vague request to chat. And don’t worry if your route isn’t linear. Choudhury himself took a winding path, and believes those extra experiences only helped. It’s a long career — “a marathon, not a sprint” as many of his mentors have advised over the years — and the world of sports law will reward genuine passion and the initiative to seize opportunities when they arise.

Shamin Choudhury will be speaking at ‘Behind the game: Explore sports law — with Linklaters’, a virtual student event taking place on Thursday 25 September, from 4pm to 6pm. APPLY NOW.

@linklaterscareersuk It’s Summer Vacation Scheme Season! Here are our Top Tips for Day 1: Arrive early – a little extra time helps you settle in and shows your enthusiasm Introduce yourself – greet your new colleagues and fellow schemers, and let your personality shine Dress professionally and comfortably – first impressions matter, so choose something professional that you feel good in Don’t forget your notebook and pen – you’ll want to capture key insights along the way Come along with Jess to see what a day on the scheme really looks like! #vacationscheme #linklaters #career ♬ House Glamor Fashion – PMsound

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A&O Shearman’s Francesca Bennetts discusses her exciting work at the cutting edge of legal tech and her advice for young lawyers navigating a changing legal landscape

“I didn’t study law at university,” says Francesca Bennetts, partner at A&O Shearman, kicking off our interview ahead of her appearance at our upcoming virtual student event, ‘The Hybrid Lawyer: Where human expertise meets artificial intelligence’. Instead of law, Bennetts pursued an undergraduate degree in theology, which she “absolutely adored” and which helped her develop valuable skills in critical thinking and research. Still, law had always beckoned, so after graduating she took a one-year conversion course to qualify as a lawyer.

Bennetts ultimately chose Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) to start her career – and the deciding factor was the people. In her interview for a training contract, the conversation drifted onto an unlikely topic: kitchenware. “We ended up having a really in-depth discussion about the relative merits of Le Creuset versus different saucepans,” she laughs. “That personal touch made an impression. They just seemed very human and that made my decision for me. A&O really felt like the place for me,” she says.

Once at the firm, Bennetts’ first seat as a trainee proved a baptism of fire: derivatives and structured finance. “Coming from a theology background, I had absolutely no idea what derivatives would be,” she recalls. “It was full of complex commercial transactions and a whole new taxonomy to learn”. It was challenging, but her supervisor was David Wakeling – now head of the team Bennetts herself would later join — and the group’s innovative mindset quickly captured her imagination. The team, she noticed, was “very interested in thinking outside the box, leveraging technology and streamlining processes” even back then. That forward-thinking attitude resonated with her.

After trying seats in litigation and even an international secondment to Rome, Bennetts returned to the derivatives department to qualify, drawn by its mix of complexity and innovation. She spent the next few years working on major finance deals, while her team continued to test tech-driven ways of working.

That experimental ethos paid off when regulatory changes required repapering huge volumes of contracts. Bennetts’ team built a platform called MarginMatrix in partnership with Big Four player Deloitte to automate the process. “We built the tech infrastructure and provided the substantive legal advice and template amendment agreements, and then Deloitte helped with the outreach and repapering,” she explains. Using this approach, they helped eight clients update their contracts — rather than just one or two via the traditional manual approach.

“That really started triggering a thought that this could be a specific practice area,” Bennetts says. In its wake, the firm established the Markets Innovation Group (MIG) – a practice dedicated to tech-enabled legal solutions. Since then, the MIG has tackled projects such as the Brexit and LIBOR transition and grown substantially. Now she helps lead the group, which is focused firmly on generative AI. “How can we best use generative AI to make ourselves more efficient internally, but also to build solutions for clients?” Bennetts says, outlining MIG’s guiding question.

One answer has been the group’s flagship product, ContractMatrix, developed in collaboration with AI start-up Harvey and Microsoft. The tool enables users to open any legal document in Word and query it using generative AI. The twist, Bennetts explains, is that the AI’s answers are “grounded and benchmarked” against the user’s own data– so lawyers can instantly compare the AI results against their trusted precedents and extract reliable insights from documentation previously agreed.

It’s clear that A&O Shearman’s investment in innovation goes well beyond lip service. Early on, the firm’s senior leadership made generative AI a strategic priority. “We made a proactive decision that we wanted to be on the front foot on adoption rather than reactive,” notes Bennetts, adding that this approach saw A&O become the first law firm to roll out generative AI firmwide and develop its own tool with Harvey. “We’re not afraid to try things and see how they work,” she adds.

This culture of experimentation thrives on collaboration. “We can bridge the gap between law and tech,” Bennetts explains of her team’s close partnership with the firm’s developers. That approach has created an “unusual synergy” at the firm. “That two-way conversation is absolutely critical,” she says, ensuring tools like ContractMatrix are truly “built by lawyers for lawyers”.

Despite the firm’s strong tech focus, Bennetts reassures future lawyers that no one expects them to be coding experts. “We’re not expecting people to come into the firm who already know everything they need to know about using tech. That’s not a prerequisite,” she says. The firm provides extensive training and resources to help new joiners get comfortable with these tools. Junior lawyers are encouraged to use them (within sensible guardrails) and even offer feedback. “Provided you follow the rules, we really want you to use this tech and tell us how you’re using it, because we can learn from people coming through with new ideas,” Bennetts explains.

So, is the rise of AI changing what it means to be a junior lawyer? Bennetts believes core qualities remain the same – with one notable addition. “The only thing I would ask of someone coming into the firm is a willingness to try,” she says. Trainees are “already going to be bright and eager to learn” – the extra quality she looks for is “a curiosity about using technology”.

To illustrate how tech can enhance a lawyer’s role, Bennetts recounts a story from early in her career. As a teenager on work experience, she once spent hours manually comparing contract drafts because the firm hadn’t enabled Word’s track-changes feature. “It sounds insane to me now,” she laughs. But adopting new tools didn’t diminish the need for lawyerly skill. “I don’t think the advent of track changes has meant I’m a worse lawyer,” Bennetts says. “All it has done is taken the mechanics of finding the changes away… The crucial bit was actually analysing the impact of those changes”.

She sees AI in the same light. Tools like Harvey might “do some of the grunt work, which means we get to the critical thinking, analytical part of our tasks quicker”. But “for juniors, that’s a good thing because that’s the bit that you’re training for,” she adds. Of course, technology is “not yet at a stage where we can take an answer and assume it’s right”, so lawyers must still “critically assess the outputs and validate” what the AI produces. In other words, critical thinking and judgment remain as important as ever.

As we wrap up our discussion, I ask Bennetts for a highlight of her innovation journey. She fondly recalls an early “eureka” moment while beta-testing a Brexit contract automation. She and her team had coded complex logic into a template — then held their breath and “pressed the button” to generate the document. When the draft appeared on-screen, “it was like our firstborn child… the logic worked, the right provisions had dropped in,” she remembers, and the pride of that achievement has stayed with her. Since that moment, the MIG team at A&O Shearman has gone from strength to strength and has made a name for itself as a force driving AI adoption in the legal profession. Future lawyers, watch this space!

Francesca Bennets will be speaking on the panel at ‘The Hybrid Lawyer: Where human expertise meets artificial intelligence — with A&O Shearman’, a virtual event taking place on Monday 8 September. Apply now to attend

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Ross Nelson, a law conversion student at The University of Law, shares his insider take on student life in London — revealing the highlights of his course, his top tips for making the most of the City, and how he juggles academic demands with life beyond the books

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study law in the heart of the UK’s capital city, minutes away from the nation’s top law firms and biggest businesses? Look no further!

Ahead of our upcoming event ‘Secrets to Success London — with Farrer & Co, Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith and ULaw‘, taking place in-person at The University of Law‘s London Bloomsbury campus, we sat down with ULaw student ambassador Ross Nelson to find out what it’s really like studying on one of the university’s central London campuses.

What first motivated you to study the law conversion at the University of Law?

My interest in pursuing a law conversion course developed during my undergraduate degree at the University of Exeter, where I studied International Relations and Russian. Whilst the course itself was interesting, I struggled to see where it would lead me in the long term, knowing that I wanted to focus on something more practical than theoretical. This is when I was first introduced to the PGDL, speaking with the University of Law team in Exeter, one of their partner universities.

The idea of converting to law excited me, but I decided to hold off for a couple of years to gain work experience and let the aftermath of COVID pass. Three years later, I was still just as interested in converting, so I decided to enrol. Although I took the time to consider several providers, I found that ULaw had a particular reputation for its employability services, which is most important to me at this stage in my career. I additionally had numerous friends who had completed the PGDL across ULaw’s campuses and always had good things to say about the teaching and student experience.

What’s the best thing about campus life at ULaw, London Moorgate?

Studying at the Moorgate campus in London was something that drew me to ULaw. The campus itself is very modern, clean and neighbouring many of London’s largest law firms, so you do feel inspired when you walk around the area. The transport links are also great, with every major tube line a stone’s throw away. This makes the commute to university very convenient and equally makes it easy to get around the city if you’ve got commitments after a workshop.

The Moorgate campus is for postgraduates only, which I also enjoyed, as everyone is at the same stage of their studies. There are always places to sit and study on campus, but there are also several coffee spots around where you can set up shop. The only drawback is that Moorgate is a very commercial area, so there are a lot more chains than quirky independent spots, but this does make it very practical and means that there’s a lot of choice around.

What has been your favourite topic/module on your course? And why?

My favourite modules so far have probably been either Criminal or Tort law. Whilst each module offers its unique appeal, as someone who had not studied law in the past, I found these particularly accessible. This is likely because they are more focused on individuals and grounded in real-world scenarios. I particularly enjoyed the workshop group tasks in these modules, which often involved two opposing teams representing the claimant/defendant and coming up with creative solutions to complex problems. I enjoyed interpreting legislation in light of a specific fact pattern, and there’s always a thrill when you successfully bring a claim against someone or defend your client. I also felt that these modules are the easiest to seep into your real life, given that both criminal and tort cases are so often reported on the news.

What was the biggest challenge you faced on your course?

Anyone will tell you that the conversion course is fast-paced and intense, but there are certainly times when I felt this more than others. The workload was particularly evident during the month leading up to exams, which overlapped with many deadlines for training contracts and vacation schemes. For me, balancing both these things was very difficult and time-consuming, so I made the active decision to prioritise my exams over anything else. Obviously, everyone works in different ways and will have their priorities, but for me, it was important to put my energy into the course. I have found that the work I put into studying was reflected in my results, but this did come at the expense of missing an application deadline or two.

What do you do outside of your studies? How do you find time to fit in all your commitments?

Outside of my studies, it has been important for me to maintain a social life and meet up with friends and family. This has been more challenging whilst studying the conversion course, but it is by no means impossible and important when spending so much of my time studying. By giving myself a routine and schedule, I have always found the time to do what I enjoy, which equally gives me the time to recharge. Finding the time to exercise, whether running or playing tennis, is also something I have found easy to balance with the demands of the course, especially as much of my time is spent studying from home, so it is a great way to break up the day.

What has the academic and pastoral support at ULaw been like?

The support at ULaw has generally been very good. I have found all my teachers very approachable and have scheduled one-to-one meetings with several of them when I have had trouble with a certain topic. Equally, the pastoral support has always been great. The university often promotes its wellbeing services, meaning students very much know where and who to go to if they need help with anything. Aside from this, I’ve personally found both the employability and library teams very helpful with my own academic and professional development, with everyone I’ve spoken to being eager to help.

What are your plans for the future?

In the future, I hope to qualify as a solicitor, so I aim to secure a training contract and complete the SQE. Being in the heart of the city has been very convenient in terms of going to law firm open days or networking events, so I have managed to get a good understanding of the firms that interest me most. Once my course concludes in August, I aim to spend time applying to winter vacation schemes and paralegal roles. I am still not set on a particular area of the law, but thanks to the course, I have a much clearer idea of the legal landscape and what range of work different areas of law entail.

What would be your advice to someone about to start the law conversion course at ULaw?

Studying law for the first time can be daunting, especially in such an intense setting; however, it is equally very rewarding if you make the most of it. My advice would be not to worry if you don’t understand something at first, and remember that everyone else is in the same boat. I found the first few weeks overwhelming, but things soon started to fall into place. Getting into a routine and taking good (revision-worthy) notes from the outset makes all the difference, as you will soon realise there is no time to do this during exam period.

Given the quantity of material to learn, I would also say it’s imperative to keep on top of the required reading each week and not feel afraid to ask your teacher or workshop group questions if you don’t think you understand something. But most importantly, try to remember to give yourself room to breathe when you can; it is a lot of studying, but this means it’s equally important to recharge your brain when you get the chance.

Legal Cheek will be at The University of Law’s London Bloomsbury campus this week for an in-person student event ‘Secrets to Success London — with Farrer & Co, Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith and ULaw‘. This event is now FULLY BOOKED, to see more of our events, check out our upcoming events schedule.

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BPP’s head of outreach Jonny Hurst guides you through them

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has remained a significant challenge for aspiring solicitors, with its assessment formats differing markedly from those most law students were used to.

At a recent virtual student workshop held in partnership with BPP University Law School, head of outreach Jonny Hurst offered an in-depth look at the ‘single best answer’ multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that candidates must master to pass the first stage of the SQE.

Hurst, a former City law firm partner, guided a virtual audience of aspiring lawyers on how to approach and prepare for MCQs, while also giving them an opportunity to put their own knowledge to the test with a series of mock questions.

Legal Cheek is running ‘The SQE series’ with BPP University Law School. The video of each session will be made available one month after each virtual event together with further FAQs arising from each session which SQE experts from BPP are answering.

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Kirsty Stanway, careers consultant at The University of Law, discusses the skills aspiring lawyers need to succeed, how the SQE is changing legal careers and the best bits about being a careers consultant

Getting your foot in the door of the legal profession is not easy. From competitive multi-stage application processes to a changing qualification process, some aspiring lawyers may not even be sure where to begin.

As a careers consultant at The University of Law’s Manchester and Leeds hubs, Kirsty Stanway helps set students on the right path and give them the tools they need to take their first steps into this challenging but exciting industry. Ahead of her appearance at ‘Secrets to Success Manchester — with Pinsent Masons, Clyde & Co, Express Solicitors and ULaw‘, Legal Cheek Careers sat down with Stanway to get her expert advice on all things careers.

Kathy Garside, programme and student lead of the SQE programme at ULaw Birmingham, discusses her career journey, advice for aspiring solicitors and the best things about the city’s legal market

As programme and student lead of the SQE programme at The University of Law’s Birmingham campus, Kathy Garside leverages her own experience as a commercial litigation lawyer in the UK’s second city to help future generations of solicitors make their way into the profession.

Ahead of her appearance at our in-person student event ‘Secrets to Success Birmingham — with Pinsent Masons, Reed Smith, Squire Patton Boggs, Browne Jacobson and ULaw’, Legal Cheek Careers sat down with Kathy to pick her brains on the skills that make a successful lawyer and how students can develop these inside and outside the classroom — as well as her top tips for securing the TC of your dreams.

We share the lowdown on a busy week of sessions from top lawyers and legal education experts

Legal Cheek’s Summer Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair 2025 in partnership with The University of Law, returned this year with a packed schedule of workshops delivered by a wide range of law firms and in-house legal teams, an ’employability expo’ with ULaw’s team of experts and our Virtual Law Fair with trainees and graduate recruitment from over 25 top law firms.

Over the course of the week, over 2,200 students flooded into the live stream to hear from these experienced experts and ask their burning questions.

In case you missed it, here’s what went down…

Day 1

Session 1: Deals

The speakers

• Oliver Hewitt, corporate associate at Jones Day
• Olivia Prioleau, corporate associate at Jones Day

 What went down…

The first session of the 2025 Summer Vacation Scheme focused on deals and took the form of a presentation delivered by Jones Day corporate associates Oliver Hewitt and Olivia Prioleau.

Reflecting on why they chose to become transactional lawyers, Hewitt and Prioleau referenced the fast-paced, varied and commercially-focused nature of their work.

After an explanation of what corporate lawyers do, Prioleau gave an overview of the firm’s clients — a list which includes household names from McDonalds to Goldman Sachs.

The presenters then broke down the life cycle of a deal, from initial negotiation stages, through due diligence (a key trainee task), to completion. They then applied these principles to examples of deals they have advised on.

We then moved to a Q&A featuring questions from our live audience. Hewitt gave an insight into the factors currently affecting corporate deals, including tariffs and geopolitical instability. Prioleau responded to a question on Jones Day’s ‘non-rotational’ training contract, emphasising a combination of guidance and freedom which allows trainees to thrive.

To conclude, our presenters shared a piece of advice they would give their younger selves: Prioleau stressed being kind to yourself and Hewitt recommended throwing yourself into every opportunity.

Session 2: Disputes

The speakers

• Kristjana Nikolls, Litigation associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher

What went down…

Session 2 saw Kristjana Nikolls take us through her dynamic disputes practice as an associate at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher. She explained the shape of a disputes matter from preliminary advice through to disclosure, evidence gathering, trial, and post-trial enforcement, giving us a flavour of the tasks done by trainees right through to partners.

Nikolls brought vibrant energy and left the PowerPoint behind, as she delivered a rich, deep dive with fantastic anecdotes across the exciting cases that have shaped her career.

We covered how teams structured with counsel got involved in the run up to court hearings, and the diverse skills involved in drafting witness statements and expert reports – where juniors are afforded much responsibility in the logistics and note-taking.

At the court stage, Nikolls told us that juniors and NQs can get involved in preparing witnesses, whilst seniors look towards strategy, and how working closely with barristers brings preparation and advocacy together to achieve the best result for the client. Peppered throughout, Nikolls gave us fascinating anecdotes, from a witness’s frequent toilet breaks to highlighters thrown across the court room. At judgment, there are strategic decisions on appeals right down to the logistics behind enforcement actions.

After a Q&A, taking us through life as a career-changer to the importance of strategic thinking in advisory work, Nikolls then took schemers through the case study supplied by ULaw, analysing how she approaches disputes problems and directs questions at the facts.

Day 2

Session 1: Real estate

 The speakers

•  Janany Kathirgamanathan, real estate partner at BCLP

What went down…

Day two of the Summer Vacation Scheme began with a session on real estate, delivered by Janany Kathirgamanathan, a commercial real estate partner at BCLP.

She shared insights from her career journey, explaining how she joined the firm in 2015 — when it was still Berwin Leighton Paisner — as an associate, and made partner last year.

Kathirgamanathan spoke about her work in development and regeneration, with a particular focus on build-to-rent projects, affordable housing, and public sector financing. She regularly advises developers, funders, and purchasers in these areas. She also touched on the impact of government policy on her work, noting that it plays a key role in shaping how affordable housing is delivered.

But Kathirgamanathan’s work goes beyond build-to-rent projects and affordable housing. She was recently involved in Tristan Capital Partners’ €400 million (£336 million) acquisition of the budget hotel chain EasyHotel.

In conversation with Legal Cheek editor Tom Connelly, she shared what first drew her to the real estate sector, explaining that it stemmed from her experience as a paralegal before securing a training contract—though she admitted with a laugh, “I didn’t care for land law at university!”

 Session 2: Employability expo

 The speakers

• Hannah Uglow, LPC and SQE programme and student lead at ULaw
• Catherine Morgan, employability group manager at ULaw
• Amy Walker, careers manager at ULaw
• Mandi Kaur, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Louise Musgrave, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Vlad Manic, student recruitment manager at ULaw

What went down…

The SQE explained

Hannah Uglow, programme and student lead at The University of Law, provided students with a clear overview of the changes to solicitor qualification following the introduction of the SQE. She explained the structure of the new exams, which are divided into two stages: SQE1 and SQE2. SQE1 assesses black letter law, while SQE2 focuses on practical legal skills such as advocacy and drafting. Uglow also outlined various course options, including ULaw’s LLM with SQE prep built in, and highlighted the pros and cons to completing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) alongside your studies.

Firm research and applications

Mandi Kaur and Vlad Manic kicked off their sessions by highlighting the importance of firm research, before delving into the aspects to consider – from practice area and sector focus to culture and values. They also shared the various sources for research aspiring solicitors can access online, including the firms’ social media channels.

When it came to writing applications, Kaur and Manic suggested applicants to assess their own employability skills and demonstrate these via concrete examples. The speakers then outlined the sections one can expect on law firm applications. To wrap up the sessions, Kaur and Manic offered practical advice, noting that applications should not be left until the last minute, especially if your target firms recruit on a rolling basis.

Where can I find legal work experience?

ULaw’s Catherine Morgan and Amy Walker, headed up this session covering all things legal work experience. Both kicked off with a myth-busting exercise, to reassure students that all work experience is valuable. They discussed the key attributes employers are looking for, and the ways to demonstrate a real interest in law. Both provided examples of opportunities available, from insight days to speculative applications and temporary roles. To wrap up, the speakers provided their top tips for creating industry contacts; students must be proactive to build lasting connections!

Writing effective CVs and cover letters

During this session, ULaw student recruitment manager Louise Musgrave shared her top tips for writing effective CVs and cover letters. The talk began by outlining what to include on your CV, including personal details, education, work experience, extra-curricular activities and relevant skills. Musgrave emphasised the importance of keeping things simple and formal, using clear headings and bullet points, a readable font and keeping to two pages of A4.

On cover letters, Musgrave encouraged students to focus on style and flow to make their submissions interesting to read. Finally, she recommended getting CVs and cover letters read over by friends, family or a careers advisor to check for any dreaded spelling and grammar errors.

Day 3

Session 1: Public law and policy

The speakers

• Louis Biggs, senior associate in the public law and policy team at Hogan Lovells
• Maddy Vincent, associate in the public law and policy team at Hogan Lovells

What went down…

We kicked off day three of the Summer Virtual Vacation Scheme with a session delivered by Louis Biggs, senior associate, and Maddy Vincent, associate, from the public law and policy team at Hogan Lovells.

The pair started with an overview of their clients, from private companies like Uber and OpenAI to public sector clients like OfGem and the Department for Energy and Net Zero.

A deep-dive into the team’s work followed. Biggs began with Hogan Lovells’ work advising major tech companies on complying with the Online Safety Act. He then moved on to his work for Uber in its appeals against Transport for London’s decision to remove its licence to operate in London.

Biggs handed over to Vincent to cover the team’s work defending the London Metal Exchange against claims that its decision to cancel nickel trades in volatile market conditions was unlawful – ending in an exciting victory in the Court of Appeal.

Throughout the presentation, our live chat was buzzing with enthusiasm and questions for the presenters. Addressing some of these questions in the follow-up Q&A, the pair shared insights into what they value in great trainees – highlighting the importance of a keen interest in politics and an ability to take the initiative.

 Day 4

Session 1: Fraud

The speakers

• Robert Hunter, Former Allen & Overy and Herbert Smith Freehills partner, and founder and trustee at City Disabilities

 What went down…

The penultimate day of the Scheme began with a session on fraud and asset tracing with Robert Hunter, former magic and silver circle partner, and founder and trustee at City Disabilities.

Hunter kicked off the session by reflecting on his career journey — from being psychology student with a keen interest in psychopathy, through to becoming partner and head of fraud at two top City firms, all whilst coming to terms with his profound deafness.

Hunter then delved into his work acting for claimants in international fraud cases — outlining the different injunction orders that can be brought against fraudsters to recover stolen assets, such as freezing and search orders, as well as the perils involved in dealing with professional fraudsters, who were often vindictive criminals.

Besides this, Hunter also emphasised the challenges of dealing with the claimants themselves, and recounted numerous tales from his 35-year career.

To conclude the session, Hunter imparted the following words of wisdom:

• Don’t be intimidated by lawyers who appear sure of themselves, as this is rarely the case in reality
• Don’t give up if you feel like others have started off their careers better than you
• There are many ways to be a good lawyer — everyone brings something different to the table

Session 2: Corporate finance

The speakers

• Karl Bradford, principle director in the corporate team at Foot Anstey

What went down…

On hand to guide students through the final session of day 4 was Karl Bradford, principal director in the corporate team at Foot Anstey. Karl kicked off with a whistle-stop tour of his varied career journey to date, discussing his experience in private practice and in-house. Bradford provided viewers with a definition of corporate real estate, before detailing what this practice area involves: investment funds, transactions through a corporate entity and joint ventures. Bradford gave some real-life examples of work he has been involved in, including some unexpected signing scenarios!

Bradford moved on to discuss the role of investment funds in the financing of corporate real estate transactions. He explained why corporate entities are used to facilitate the transaction, and helpfully presented some animations to illustrate the process. He discussed the process of due diligence, the need for warranties and indemnities, and how this process can influence the end transaction.

Bradford went on to cover his final topic up for discussion: joint venture agreements. Bradford considered the benefits of joint ventures and their popularity when conditions are favourable. He then walked students through the key terms involved.

The session then moved to the audience Q&A. Bradford was probed on his motivation to work in corporate real estate, the skills required, and the changes he expects in the industry over the coming years. The session wrapped up with an analysis of the finance-focused case study, considering the best way to transfer an interest in a loan.

 Day 5

Session 1: Training in-house

The speakers

•  Rebecca Staheli, head of competition and regulatory law at the BBC
•  Charlie Pratt, graduate solicitor apprentice at the BBC

What went down…

Our representatives from the BBC’s in-house legal team, Rebecca Staheli and Charlie Pratt, began by introducing themselves and their respective career journeys. Pratt then explained why he joined the graduate solicitor apprenticeship scheme at the BBC, citing his long-term interest in the company’s media output and the wider commercial considerations across the industry, among others.

The speakers then outlined what a typical day looks like for each of them. For Staheli, there is “no such thing as a typical day”, explaining the vast variety of matters that comes across her desk, as a reflection of the size of the organisation and the nature of the business. For Pratt, the typical day varies between seats, which are scattered across the BBC. To illustrate this, Pratt compared his experience in the distribution team at BBC Legal to that in the brand protection team at BBC Studios.

During the audience Q&A, the speakers delved into the differences between working in-house versus in private practice. Staheli described what career progression looks like in-house, while Pratt highlighted the greater autonomy that in-house trainees enjoy. Pratt also gave an overview of the application process to the BBC and offered tips and advice on doing research on the organisation.

To round off the session, Staheli analysed the case study exercise, discussing the directions students can take and the factors to consider.

 Session 2: Alternatives to Corporate Law

The speakers

• Edie Selsdon Games, trainee solicitor at TV Edwards Solicitors
• Ravina Bahra, public law paralegal at Lawstop
• Alaa Ahmed, trainee solicitor at Wilsons Solicitors

What went down…

To kick off the final session of day 5, Edie Selsdon Games provided a whistle-stop tour of her legal experience to date. Electing to study immigration and housing law on the LPC, Edie very quickly knew that this area of work was one she intended to pursue. Selsdon Games threw herself into pro-bono work at university, before assisting as a caseworker at a money advice clinic. Her experience since has been about making a real difference to housing clients at TV Edwards Solicitors.

Ravina Bahra went on to discuss her journey to date, giving students a rundown of what exactly public law involves. She discussed her experience paralegalling at a city firm, before explaining the nature of her current work at Lawstop. Bahra praised the role for its intellectual stimulation and impact, before giving examples of cases where she has made a tangible difference. Bahra rounded up by touching on the complexities of working with legal aid clients.

Alaa Ahmed discussed her transition from caseworker to trainee at Wilsons Solicitors, and reflected on the part she has played in immigration work. She walked students through her career journey prior to this, admitting that protecting the rights of others has always been a high priority. Ahmed recounted some standout deportation cases, and reflected on the key skills that are essential to this line of work.
The session wrapped up with an audience Q&A. The speakers covered everything from training, to the emotional complexities of the job, and the challenges of obtaining relevant experience.

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BPP module leader Julie Manson joins Jonny Hurst, head of outreach, share insights into the key legal skills assessed in SQE2 and how to develop them

After overcoming the demanding assessments of SQE1, aspiring solicitors must turn their attention to the next crucial hurdle: SQE2. This stage shifts the focus from legal knowledge to the practical skills essential for effective legal practice — testing candidates on their ability to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios.

At a recent workshop hosted by Julie Manson, module leader at BPP University Law School, and Jonny Hurst, head of outreach, attendees gained valuable insights into the key legal skills assessed during SQE2, how to develop those skills, and what SQE2 preparation really involves. The session also offered a chance to put theory into practice by testing one of the core SQE2 skills live.

Catch the full workshop above, or click here to watch it on YouTube.

You will need to access this document as part of the workshop.

Legal Cheek is running ‘The SQE series’ with BPP University Law School. The video of each session will be made available one month after each virtual event together with further FAQs arising from each session which SQE experts from BPP are answering.

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Phyllida Roberts, head of law conversion at The University of Law, shares her top tips for non-law students preparing for a career in law

Phyllida Roberts studied modern languages as an undergraduate before training as a solicitor. She is now head of law conversion courses at The University of Law, helping the newest generation of non-law graduates make the jump into their legal careers.

Ahead of her appearance on the panel at Legal Cheek‘s upcoming virtual event ‘Why non-law students make great lawyers — with Ashurst, Mishcon de Reya, Reed Smith and ULaw‘ on Tuesday 3 June, Roberts sat down with Legal Cheek Careers to share her advice to non-law students and explain why she thinks they make such great lawyers.

1. Could you describe your career journey and how you got to where you are today?

I was undecided about at career path at 18, despite always being interested in ‘the law’. I studied modern languages as an undergraduate and then as the reality of work approached, I applied to law school but I don’t think there was a ‘lightbulb’ moment — I could easily have chosen a career in teaching! I spent two years at the College of Law in Guildford, first on the conversion course (CPE as it then was) and then on the Legal Practice Course.

Next stop — life as a trainee solicitor in London for 2 years where I remained for 4 years post qualification. Leaving London to practice in Leeds was prompted by personal reasons. I moved into legal education at the College of Law, York — initially as a flexible stop gap ‘to keep my grey cells working’ whilst I had a young family — but I absolutely loved it. 17 years later and I haven’t looked back!

2. What motivated you to work in legal education?

I have always had a ‘teacher’ instinct, I think. I taught in France for two years (one year as part of my undergraduate degree and then one year after I had graduated). I hesitated between a PGCE and a Law conversion and eventually plumped for the latter. I think law and education are very closely linked — advising a client and managing the client relationship is very similar to teaching in that the skill of explaining difficult concepts in a digestible manner and adapting to meet differing student needs are akin to the solicitor/client dynamic.

For me, the transition to legal education felt a very natural step. I really enjoy the ‘nurturing’ side of the role — seeing students join us quite green at the beginning of their studies and then leave us fully confident is very rewarding.

3. What does your role as head of law conversion courses involve?

All sorts — no one day is the same which keeps it challenging and interesting. I suppose my main focus is to help develop and deliver a law conversion course that stretches students but which they will also find absorbing and useful. My role covers most of the basic programme content — liaising with module designers, creating supporting materials in terms of induction, preparing students for assessments, organising exam boards and generally assisting the Programme Director and our national team in providing a solid and engaging academic experience for our students.

I am lucky to work with a great team of people. One of the best parts for me is that I still get to teach and I would definitely say this is one of the best bits. I think it’s important to be authentic and visible in my role and see firsthand what our students are experiencing.

4. What are the benefits of coming into law with a non-law undergraduate degree?

The benefits are huge and I am not just saying that! Students across all different undergraduate backgrounds bring so much to the table – analytical ability and problem solving are vital skills for any lawyer so science, social science and humanities subjects are ideal foundations for a legal career. Conversion students have another string to their bow and their previous experience I think gives them an edge in the workplace — languages helped me but equally a background in science in terms of knowing your client’s industry in areas like patent law can be so beneficial.

5. What are the challenges that non-law students might face during their conversion course and what would be your advice for overcoming them?

As a ‘converter’ I know how daunting it can feel. I didn’t ‘get it’ for a while and there’s always the worry of trying to get through a lot of dense material in a short timeframe.

The style of answering questions on a law conversion course is quite different to the undergraduate experience. We focus on a very practical approach to learning here — our courses are designed to get students thinking like a lawyer from day one with a structured approach to answering questions and this can sometimes be challenging. This is completely normal but we are fortunate to have excellent support teams to assist our students — each student has a dedicated academic coach and we have support via our lecturers, study skills and library teams.

My advice is to be organised and disciplined with your time, ask questions, attend your classes, keep up with your work and make notes as you go along. Make friends and get involved in your campus community (at our physical campuses and our online campus). Most importantly, don’t put too much pressure on yourself — yes, it’s an intense course but ensuring that you rest and have outside activities is important.

6. How do the University of Law’s conversion courses set students up for success on the SQE or bar course?

Whilst a law degree or its equivalent are no longer necessary to practice as a solicitor, we (and most law firms) think it’s crucial. Knowledge of the black letter law is a prerequisite for SQE1 and the conversion component of the PgDL and both MA courses do just that.

The courses are designed with a strong practical focus and teaching and assessments incorporate Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs). 40% of each module assessment is comprised of SBAQs and this is superb practice for the SRA’s SQE1 exams. Students also benefit from having the law ‘fresh in their minds’; they are not trying to draw on legal knowledge studied when they were undergraduates some time ago. MA Law (SQE1) students also get the benefit of our internal exams after they study the SQE1 preparation course. Again, this gives them vital practice for the external SQE1 exams.

For the Bar, all students must undertake a conversion course if they do not have a law degree — this is the Academic Stage of Training. Again, SBAQs feature in some Bar assessments as well, so our courses set up students for both routes into the profession.

7. How can students make the most of their non-law background in applications for training contracts and pupillages?

I would encourage students to focus on their ‘transferable skills’ — their undergraduate disciplines provide an extra dimension and any work experience is excellent. This doesn’t have to be in law, anytime spent in industry as part of a work placement year or a year studying aboard shows independence, resilience and initiative.

Concentrate on emphasising the fresh perspective and specialised knowledge that your undergraduate degree has given you — be that finance, science or the analytical skills from a humanities degree. We have an award-winning employability team at the University of Law and we are uniquely placed to help students with applications for their chosen route into law.

8. What advice would you give to somebody about to start a law conversion course?

Inform yourself — get as much information as you can on the different conversion courses and what would suit you. Think about how you study best — would part-time study or full-time study work for you? Remember it is a very intense experience even if you opt for a part-time course. Also, think about your preferred mode of study — would you benefit more from attendance at a physical campus or would online study suit you better? Get some work experience if you can — either formally through a vacation scheme or mini pupillage or informally just shadowing a lawyer for the day or sitting in the public gallery at court.

Probably the best advice is to join us at an open day/evening at a physical campus or attend a virtual event for our online campus to get a better feel — just take a look at our website and sign up!

Phyllida Roberts will be speaking at ‘Why non-law students make great lawyers — with Ashurst, Mishcon de Reya, Reed Smith and ULaw’, a virtual student event taking place on Tuesday 3 June. Apply now to attend.

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Legal Cheek’s annual conference gathered together key figures from across the profession to discuss GenZ, SQE, apprenticeships, skills gaps and more

Yesterday, LegalEdCon 2025 returned to Kings Place in London for talks exploring the hottest topics in legal education and training.

Nearly 300 delegates gathered to hear the latest industry insights from leading experts in the legal field. This year’s conference featured sessions on a variety of topics, including the practical developments in the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) regime, diversity, intergenerational workplaces, the science behind learning, and solicitor apprenticeships.

Thom Brooks returned with insights and laughs for the keynote session, continuing his analogy between the SQE and Brexit. His emphasis on reform and improvement to better the SQE for students, providers, and firms capped off the fascinating and poignant themes covered over the day.

Session 1: Mind the gap: tackling workplace readiness

The speakers:

• Morette Jackson, Director of Business Development at The University of Law (chair)
• Joanna Stevens, Senior Early Talent Manager at Charles Russell Speechlys
• Ellis Johnstone, Early Talent Development Lead at Clifford Chance

ULaw’s Morette Jackson, Director of Business Development, kicked off LegalEdCon 2025 by chairing a session focused on workplace readiness. The session asked important questions about how equipped incoming trainee solicitors are for life at a law firm. Jackson spoke about her experience in education before turning to a survey conducted by Legal Cheek. The survey statistics and comments led to a rich discussion with graduate recruiters Joanna Stevens of Charles Russell Speechlys and Ellis Johnstone of Clifford Chance about how their firms are tackling workplace readiness, accounting for the SQE, Covid graduates and generational differences.

Jackson left the lecturn to join her co-speakers on stage for a roundtable Q&A. Joanna Stevens discussed how Charles Russell Speechlys build workplace readiness using their business school. Stevens added that LPC graduates were not required to take SQE2 when joining the firm, but flagged that SQE resits have been disruptive. Apprentices, meanwhile, were praised for their enthusiasm, drive, proactivity, and good exam results — and more exposure to workplace norms.

As Ellis Johnstone said, “law firms now have four generations under one roof”. He noted that some trainees in Clifford Chance’s pipeline had never in their lives taken an exam in-person thanks to Covid, coursework and hybrid working — requiring new pastoral strategies from Johnstone and his team. He noted that setting expectations was key to bridging generational divides.

You can read more about the Legal Cheek workplace-readiness survey here.

Session 2: The psychology of learning

The speakers:

• Alisa Gray, Director of Learning at BARBRI (chair)
• Roy Morgan, Training & Design Specialist at BARBRI
• Sue Elabor, Organisational Psychologist at Blueprint For All

Alisa Gray, Director of Learning at BARBRI, chaired the psychology of learning session. This dynamic discussion explored how neuroscience and psychology are shaping modern legal education. Joined by BARBRI colleague Roy Morgan and Sue Elabor of social justice charity Blueprint for All, the panel explained how learning actually works — and how legal educators can make what they’re teaching stick. Gray, a qualified lawyer turned organisational psychologist, introduced the session by challenging attendees to think of learning as “rewiring the brain”.

Roy Morgan reflected on how digital learning has put “everyone in the front row” of the class. He described BARBRI’s use of guessing, spaced repetition, and chunking knowledge in bite-sized pieces to foster long-term knowledge — crucial for SQE prep, but also for lifelong learning.

Sue Elabor emphasised context, particularly for students from socially mobile backgrounds. She highlighted how MCQs can disadvantage learners unfamiliar with culturally-loaded scenarios, and that psychological safety — the ability to make mistakes without fear — is key to encouraging growth. On fostering learning mindsets across age groups and generations, she said: you certainly can teach an old dog new tricks as long as the attitude is right.

The panellists explored attention spans, busting the myth that they’re getting shorter. Instead, they stressed the need to make content engaging and relevant. The session closed with a call for science-informed teaching to improve educational outcomes. Morgan reminded the audience: “it’s not about what we teach — it’s what learners actually take in.”

Session 3: Gen Z: expectations and realities

The speakers:

• Charlotte Wanendeya, Head of Law at BPP (chair)
• Richard Macklin, Former Global Vice Chair at Dentons
• Charlie Moore, Senior Paralegal at Kingsley Napley
• Lou Lecomte, Solicitor Apprentice at TLT
• Colin Shaw, Head of Learning and Development (EMEA) at Norton Rose Fulbright

Charlotte Wanendeya, Head of Law at BPP, chaired a conversation featuring representatives from four generations of legal professionals: Baby Boomer Richard Macklin, Gen Xers Colin Shaw and Wanendeya herself, Millennial Lou Lecomte, and Gen Z Charlie Moore. The panel tackled evolving attitudes towards mental health, hybrid working, pay expectations, and AI.

Moore called for mental health support to be embedded into the culture of law firms, especially to support those from lower-income backgrounds. Lecomte agreed, adding that as well as mental health, Millennials value career transparency and direction. Macklin reflected on a past where anxiety and his recently-diagnosed ADHD were not spoken about, urging law firms to combine support with self-care: “Law is a tough job. Like athletes, lawyers need to stay fit and supported.”

On hybrid working, the panel agreed that firms must adapt to new learning models and embrace change. Shaw said post-pandemic realities call for intentional support and digital inclusion. Though learning “by osmosis” was still important, Macklin stressed that “availability” trumps physical presence.

The discussion also explored salaries. Moore challenged the “golden handcuff” model, saying Gen Z prioritised meaningful work over hierarchy — which Lecomte echoed. Wanendeya noted that fewer of today’s young lawyers are seeking partnership at their firms as ideas of success have changed, meaning law firm models may have to evolve. Macklin pointed out that junior lawyer salaries are much higher than they have ever been in the past, making law a difficult but a well-remunerated job. This seemed to cut to the biggest generational split.

The speakers emphasised interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and collaboration across generations — including in the ways they use tech. Macklin closed by warning: “If you’re not using GenAI in your work today, I’d be worried” but noted that emotional intelligence is a horizontal — not vertical — spectrum, and that every generation has something to learn from the others.

Lunch and networking

Session 4: The SQE unfiltered

The speakers:

• Caroline Lister, Director of Client Partnerships at BPP
• Professor Joanna Ballard, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic at The University of Law
• Jonathan Worrell, Director of Business Development at BARBRI
• Daisy Mortimer, Senior Future Talent Manager at Stephenson Harwood
• George McNeilly, Early Talent Partner at DWF
• Julie Swan, Director of Education and Training at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
• Danielle Viall, General Counsel at Legal Services Board (LSB)

Chaired by Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge, the first session after lunch promised to “air” the big questions on the SQE in an unfiltered roundtable. The session covered everything from data (or lack thereof), shifts in law firm recruitment, and how training providers view on the SQE’s benefits and drawbacks.

Some pertinent questions were put to the SRA’s director of education and training Julie Swann on topics including promised data on provider pass-rates, diversity issues and an overall lack confidence in the SQE. Danielle Viall from the LSB in particular mentioned the “red” rating they gave the SRA when it failed to publish SQE data in full.

Law firm representatives explained how taking on SQE trainees has changed their day-to-day work. George McNeilly from DWF mentioned how the firm works closely with law schools to support neurodiverse candidates and those with protected characteristics. Daisy Mortimer of Stephenson Harwood said disruptions due to SQE failures — which are much more common than failures on the LPC — have impacted the recruitment pipeline for firms. She recalled having to tell departments that they wouldn’t have an incoming trainee on very short notice.

ULaw’s Joanna Ballard celebrated the diversity in courses available to candidates but noted that the introduction of the SQE has made it necessary to design entirely new platforms and systems. Jonathan Worrell mentioned that BARBRI offers client-firms live data to review their future-trainees’ ongoing attainment and offer targeted coaching. The SQE has fallen short for self-funding students suggested BPP’s Caroline Lister, who noted this may limit the diversity of firm trainee intakes.

Questions from audience members covered the impact of the SQE on neurodiverse candidates, praised the SQE’s “earn while you learn” qualifying work experience and the SQE access and reinvestment fund.

Session 5: Diversity meets politics

The speakers:

• Giles Proctor, CEO & Head of School at The College of Legal Practice
• Tom Wicksteed, Early Careers Manager at Mishcon de Reya
• Amia Tahir, Solicitor Apprentice at Dentons
• Danielle Lobel-Weiss, Partner at Lee & Thompson

Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge chaired a discussion on how government policy is shaping law firm strategy — particularly around DEI and the uncertainty surrounding funding for Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships.

Giles Proctor, CEO & Head of School at the College of Legal Practice, noted the current uncertainty around apprenticeships but stressed that education providers were preparing for all outcomes. Tom Wicksteed clarified that for certain firms — who only offer school leaver apprenticeships — level 7 funding cuts are not a stressor.

On DEI and President Trump, there was discussion about how government policy can cause seismic shifts for both legal education, graduate recruitment, and law firm strategy.

Solicitor apprentice Amia Tahir shared her inspiring story of choosing a solicitor apprenticeship at Dentons over an offer from the University of Cambridge, praising the apprenticeship model for enabling students from disadvantaged backgrounds to “earn while they learn.” She told the audience that she is now the most highly educated person in her family and earns more than friends still at law school: “I’ve broken the cycle.”

Lee & Thompson partner Danielle Lobel-Weiss celebrated how apprenticeship schemes were enhancing DEI and facilitating on-the-job training for boutique firms. However, she acknowledged that some partners underestimate what apprenticeships involve.

Concerns remained about the need for better outreach programmes to help apprenticeship candidates understand the culture of law firms. Nevertheless, the panel agreed the apprenticeship standard is as high as that for training contract candidates and firms who had not yet adopted the scheme were strongly encouraged too.

Keynote – The SQE is like Brexit: seven years on from his prophetic talk at the inaugural LegalEdCon, Thom Brooks returns with a plan to reform the SQE

The speaker:

• Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government at Durham University

Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government at Durham University, returned to LegalEdCon for a follow-up to his SQE “TEDtalk” — from all the way back in 2018, at the inaugural conference. A self-proclaimed big Legal Cheek fan, Thom brought great energy to wrap up the conference.

“It struck me in 2018 that things going on with Brexit and with the SQE were similar,” Brooks said, before catching the crowd up on his thoughts. To much chuckling from the audience, he recalled that back then “folks were told the SQE would create better candidates, be a cheaper route to qualification, and be more inclusive — with the data to back it up.”

Drawing an analogy with Brexit, Brooks suggested a lot was said about the SQE — but not a lot that explained what the SQE actually was: “SQE means…SQE,” he said, in his best Theresa May impression.

Picking up on key themes from across LegalEdCon 2025 — diversity, data (or lack thereof), and attainment gaps — Brooks did not hold back in his assessment of these exams. He then asked the pressing question — is it time to stop bashing the SQE?

Brooks set out ten “good ideas” he had drawn from advisory board which included law firms, academics, and recent SQE-takers. These ideas included SQE1 exemptions for law graduates, more northern test centres (or “at least one within 2 hours of Durham!”) and greater transparency on pass-rate data. The delegates, from regulators to academics to law firm recruiters, were hastily taking notes.

Brooks’ funny yet insightful keynote speech made for an outstanding finish to a fascinating LegalEdCon 2025.

Tom Connelly, Legal Cheek‘s editor, brought the conference to a close by thanking the speakers, delegates and headline sponsors BARBRI, BPP University Law School and The University of Law, as well as silver sponsor The College of Legal Practice and additional sponsors Oxford University Press, The National Association of Licensed Paralegals, The Food Chain and Support Through Court.

Hilary Chadwick, BPP’s Head of Law and a qualified solicitor, guides you through it

Now in its fourth year, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) regime continues to present a daunting challenge for aspiring solicitors. Even with multiple cohorts having completed both SQE1 and SQE2, the assessments remain rigorous and demanding.

With this in mind, a recent workshop led by Hilary Chadwick, BPP’s Head of Law and a qualified solicitor, offered valuable insights into the benefits of live teaching when preparing for SQE1. The session began with a brief introduction to a new area of law, followed by practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and an interactive analysis of the answers — giving attendees a realistic glimpse into the SQE1 learning experience.

Catch the full workshop above, or click here to watch it on YouTube

Legal Cheek is running ‘The SQE series’ with BPP University Law School. The video of each session will be made available one month after each virtual event together with further FAQs arising from each session which SQE experts from BPP are answering.

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Claire Flores, head of student sales at BARBRI, discusses qualifying via the SQE, the global appeal of US law firms, and how aspiring solicitors can stand out in a competitive market

If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about six-figure salaries, skyscraper offices, and glamorous cross-border deals, you’re not alone. The appeal of US-headquartered law firms has never been stronger among aspiring solicitors in the UK — especially those thinking about qualifying via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). But how do you actually get there?

Ahead of our virtual event How to qualify, apply and work for a US law firm — with BARBRI this afternoon (Tuesday 22 April), we caught up with Claire Flores, Head of Student Sales at global legal education provider BARBRI. A US-qualified lawyer herself, Flores now works with students across multiple jurisdictions, from London to New York to Mexico City, helping them navigate the path to qualification.

Her career journey, much like the legal profession itself, has been anything but linear. “I actually did my undergraduate at the University of Arkansas in marketing management and economics,” she tells Legal Cheek Careers. “But I always felt called to law — it offered a sense of purpose. I loved the complexity of US constitutional law and the academic challenge of it.”

She went on to study for her juris doctorate at Saint Louis University, later passing the bar exam using BARBRI’s prep course. “I’d worked for BARBRI as a student ambassador and later as head ambassador during law school. So, when I passed the bar, they offered me a full-time role, and it felt like the perfect blend of my interests in business, law, and education.”

Flores initially worked with law schools across the US Midwest, but as BARBRI expanded internationally, she was invited to support their London office. “In 2017 and 2018, I spent summers in London helping grow our presence here. At that time, we were promoting the US bar to international markets, but we also had our eyes on the UK — and when the SQE was announced, it was a natural fit.”

By 2020, BARBRI had launched its SQE1 Prep course in time for the 2021 exams, drawing on its expertise in multiple-choice legal testing, a format it had mastered through decades of US bar prep. “There was a clear synergy,” says Flores. “The SRA looked to the US bar exam when designing the SQE, and we already had the infrastructure and expertise in place. It made sense for us to step into the space.”

So, what is it that makes US law firms so attractive to UK students, particularly those looking to qualify via the SQE? “There’s quite a presence of US and internationally-founded firms operating in the UK,” says Flores. “They offer incredibly competitive training and opportunities, and I think that’s very appealing to the new generation of lawyers. The client work is interesting, the case work is challenging, and there’s often a strong culture of high performance.”

She adds that globalisation is driving much of the demand. “Law is becoming more complex as the world becomes more interconnected. That means more cross-border matters, more collaboration between offices, and more international mobility for lawyers. And firms that operate globally are looking for trainees who can operate in that space.”
The SQE route, she explains, fits well with this evolving legal landscape. “It’s flexible and accessible — whether you come from a law background or not, you can qualify through the SQE and tailor the journey around your own circumstances.”

She also highlights the benefits of BARBRI’s SQE Prep course for students targeting top firms. “Our training is deliberately structured to be direct and effective,” she explains. “Whether you’re juggling work, care responsibilities, or other commitments, the programme helps you focus on what you actually need to know, so you can open up time for practical experience or firm placements.”

Flores is especially passionate about the rise in dual qualification — something she’s spoken about recently at events at the British Embassies in Paris and Mexico City. “English law is used globally, especially in arbitration and cross-border transactions. So, it comes as no surprise that international lawyers are increasingly looking to add England and Wales to their qualifications.”

She says many of the lawyers she speaks to cite similar motivations. “The lawyers who are dual qualified all say that having that comparative legal knowledge makes them better lawyers. They’re better able to advise clients, spot issues across systems, and build credibility, both academically and professionally.”

Having worked with thousands of BARBRI students over the years, Flores has a solid sense of what sets the most successful ones apart. “Discipline and dedication are essential — you can’t get through the SQE or the bar exam without those,” she says. “But the students who thrive at the top firms also know who they are. They know their strengths and can present them clearly to a recruiter.”

That doesn’t mean having your whole career mapped out from day one, she adds. “I always ask students: what kind of law are you drawn to? What unique experiences can you bring? Maybe you’ve worked in another industry, maybe you speak another language — those things can set you apart if you learn to present them confidently.”

She encourages students to experiment and stay open-minded. “Sometimes it’s about learning what you don’t want to do. And that’s just as valuable. Trying different areas of law is how you home in on your path.”

As for the SQE itself, Flores has two top tips:

“First, trust the process,” she says. “We’ve designed our courses using learning science. Every assignment, every module has a purpose. It might feel different to what you did at uni, but it works. Trust it, follow it, and you’ll be in a good place.”

Her second tip is about exam-day nerves. “In the last two or three weeks before your exam, start practising your perfect exam day. Go to bed at the time you will the night before the exam. Wake up at the time you’ll need to on the day. Eat the breakfast you plan to eat. Take the same journey. Literally rehearse the day.”

Why? “Because it helps reduce anxiety,” she explains. “You can’t control the trains or the noise outside the test centre, but you can control your routine. It made such a difference when I did it. I walked into the exam calm, well-rested, and already in the mindset I needed to be in.”

Want to hear more? Join us for ‘How to qualify, apply and work for a US law firm — with BARBRI’ THIS AFTERNOON at 4pm. The virtual event will explore the realities of qualifying and practising at a US law firm, and how BARBRI’s SQE Prep courses can help you get there. Speakers include Claire Flores and lawyers from top US-headquartered firms.

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Alysia Hoe, future trainee solicitor and SQE student at ULaw, discusses staying motivated on the SQE and finding your route into law

Talking to Alysia Hoe ahead of The University of Law’s upcoming event, ‘The SQE Explained’, you get the impression she’s the kind of person who makes the most out of every opportunity and brings a lot of joy along the way.

She’s currently studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE) at ULaw and has a training contract lined up with national law firm Stevens & Bolton. But law hasn’t always been the plan. “I actually didn’t do a law degree,” she says. Instead, she studied modern languages at the University of Exeter and only turned her sights on the legal profession later on. “I’d always kind of considered it, but I wasn’t sure at 17,” she explains, echoing the internal tug-of-war that many school leavers face.

It was during her final year at Exeter that Hoe decided to give law a proper shot, enrolling first on the conversion course, and now tackling the SQE full-time at ULaw. Along the way, she threw herself into applications, legal work experience and student life, eventually landing that elusive training contract.

Hoe’s CV includes stints in charity work, an internship at the Devon Community Foundation, and freelance data analysis for litigation analytics platform Solomonic. She’s also worked in a real estate legal team and juggled a part-time role as a student ambassador for ULaw. And while not all the jobs were glamorous — “I didn’t enjoy real estate masses,” she admits — they all fed into her legal growth. “It was really, really helpful when studying the property practice part of SQE. I already knew what all the forms looked like. I might not know how to do them, but I knew what they looked like,” she laughs.

Her role as a student ambassador also opened unexpected doors. “I just really enjoy talking to people,” she says, which made getting paid to do just that “a bit of a no-brainer”. But beyond the social perks, it’s helped her build her legal network, from meeting other students and recruiters to attending major events. “It’s been a really good job alongside my studies, not just for employability, but because I actually think it’s really fun.”

So, how did her training contract come about? Like many non-law grads, her first round of TC applications didn’t go to plan. “The feedback was always the same, that I had no evidence I was committed to law,” Hoe says. Instead of giving up, she used that feedback to build a case for herself, getting involved in pro bono at ULaw and even converting a rejected application into paid work experience. “I managed to persuade them to keep me on one day a week for a whole year,” she says.

By the time she reapplied, she had a clearer idea of the kind of firm she was after. “I knew that I didn’t really see myself at one of the big, massive firms in London,” she says. “It’s really for some people, but I didn’t think it was for me.” Instead, she focused on firms around the Southeast, closer to her Hampshire roots, and was drawn to Stevens & Bolton by both reputation and a friend of the family who had worked with the firm.

A vacation scheme sealed the deal. “Everybody is recruited from the vac scheme, and I think that’s such a great way to get to know the people, the environment, and what it feels like to work there.” Her biggest piece of advice for others applying? “Message someone on LinkedIn who did the scheme the year before. People are genuinely nice and will reply. I wish I’d done that.”

And then, of course, there’s the SQE, that infamous mountain all aspiring solicitors now have to climb. Hoe passed SQE1 on her first try, but she’s candid about how difficult it was. “It’s definitely the most physically and mentally exhausting exam I’ve ever done,” she says. “There were definitely tears.” The exam structure itself doesn’t help. “I had my last lesson on 2 December, and the exam wasn’t until late January, so trying to stay motivated over Christmas was hard,” she explains.

Her approach to revision, though, was methodical. “I broke everything down into subtopics and made a map with chapter numbers, ticking them off as I went.” She made the most of ULaw’s bite-sized revision videos and single best answer (SBA) practice banks, aiming for a balance between content learning and question practice. “I didn’t do this at the start,” she admits, “but toward the end I’d do topic-based revision in the morning and questions in the afternoon.”

So what surprised her most? “Everyone says SQE2 is easier, and I think in some ways that’s true, but it’s definitely still challenging,” she says. The higher pass rate, she points out, doesn’t tell the full story. Only those who’ve passed SQE1 can sit it, so it’s a much smaller cohort. Plus, the skills-based element of SQE2, including legal drafting, advocacy and case analysis is a whole different beast. “You need to know the law but also be able to apply it. In SQE1 you’re just clicking the right answer. Now I’ve got to argue it.”

Still, Hoe feels cautiously optimistic. She’s been taking part in ULaw’s exam prep workshops, where students practise skills like interviewing and advocacy through mock assessments. “It’s really intense, but definitely worth it,” she says. “Having a plan is key. Me and my friends all have different revision schedules, but just knowing what you’re doing helps.”

As for misconceptions? “Everything I thought about the SQE — that it was going to be awful, that it was going to be long, that there were going to be tears — turned out to be true,” she laughs. “But I also knew I’d done all I could, and that helped.”

Looking ahead, Hoe’s advice to future SQE candidates is refreshingly grounded. Don’t just rely on practice questions. Take breaks. Make time for the things and people that energise you. For her, that meant working shifts as a student ambassador, going for runs, and chatting to people about why they should do law. “It’s kind of like a break,” she says. “You’re still doing something, but you’re not revising.”

And whether it’s finding the right firm, passing a brutal exam, or just navigating the Christmas slump, she’s living proof that the SQE slog is survivable.

Find out more about the SQE at ULaw event “The SQE Explained” on 17 April 2025. Apply now to attend.

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BPP’s Julie Manson talks exam success

Julie Manson, a module leader at BPP University Law School, first joined the law school in 1998, “when it was still relatively small,” she recalls. Since then, she has combined her role with experience in corporate practice and a range of learning and development (L&D) positions — including roles at an international law firm, another University, and even Christie’s auction house.

This rare combination, practitioner, academic and L&D expert, has led her to her current role as professional skills and behaviours module leader, where she teaches students how law firms operate, how legal practice is changing, and the skills and behaviours you need to be successful in your role within an organisation.

It’s a role that sits at the intersection of knowledge, reflection and, crucially, confidence-building. These are all themes which feature heavily in the SQE2 taster workshop, a virtual student hosted by Julie tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 8 April).

“The SQE2 is a very different set of assessments to SQE1,” she tells Legal Cheek Careers. “You’ve got to be able to take in new information there and then, whether that’s in writing or through a client conversation, and adapt accordingly. That’s a big shift from SQE1, where it’s all about knowledge recall.”

While the SQE1 focuses on legal knowledge through multiple choice questions, SQE2 is heralded as the more practical stage. It tests oral and written skills like advocacy, interviewing, legal drafting and case and matter analysis. The goal is to ensure that aspiring solicitors can actually apply the law in real-world, client-facing contexts.

“It’s a big shift,” Julie says, “because students often come in thinking it’s just about knowing the law. But SQE2 is about how you use that knowledge, how you listen, how you communicate, how you present ideas in a way that makes sense to someone who might not know the law.”

Julie gives a recent example from a mock client interview. “The students that did well weren’t the ones who talked the most or asked the most questions. They were the ones who listened. You can come in with a script in your head, but if you’re not open to what the client is really saying, you’ll miss the mark.”

This shift from academic prowess to adaptable, empathetic communication is one that excites Julie. “I love seeing that moment where someone realises they’ve got something to offer, that their way of thinking or communicating is valid and useful, even if it’s not what they first expected,” she says. “Everyone brings different strengths to the table, and SQE2 really allows those to come through”.

This focus on confidence and practical application is woven into BPP’s approach to SQE preparation. Students who take both SQE1 and SQE2 with the provider benefit from a structured programme that introduces the core skills early on. “Even though SQE1 is primarily knowledge-based, we embed elements of the SQE2 skills throughout,” Julie explains. “So, by the time students move on to the second stage, they’re not starting from scratch.”

Once students are in the SQE2 phase, BPP offers a blend of workshops, online resources, one-to-one practice sessions including live interviews and advocacy assessments, and what BPP calls a “cycle of learning”. This cycle includes preparation, live practice, reflection and feedback, all essential elements for what she describes as “getting comfortable with being uncomfortable”.

“We ask our students to try everything, even the things they’re unsure about,” she says. “You’re not expected to be perfect straight away. But if you can be brave enough to give it a go, take feedback on board, and keep building, you’re putting yourself in a really strong position.”

This is where events like the SQE2 taster workshop come in. Taking place virtually on 8 April, the session will give aspiring lawyers the chance to get a flavour of what SQE2 is really like, from understanding the key skills to actually participating in real time.

“We want people to get a sense of what this assessment is really testing,” says Julie. “It’s not just about whether you know the right answer. It’s about whether you can communicate with a client, whether you can analyse a situation, and whether you can adapt to the context you’re in.”

The session will also include time for follow-up questions and virtual networking with the BPP team, providing further insight into the qualification process and career planning. “We know this can feel like a daunting stage,” Julie adds. “But the earlier you engage with it, the more you reflect and practise, the better prepared you’ll be.”

So, what are Julie’s top tips for students getting ready for SQE2?

First, stay organised. “Those that do well tend to be really disciplined,” she says. “They follow the structure we provide, they manage their time effectively, and they build in time to revisit their legal knowledge from SQE1, because you’re still tested on that in SQE2.”

Second, be reflective. “We actually assess students on their ability to reflect,” Julie explains, referring to BPP’s internal portfolio element. “It’s not just about doing the skill. It’s about recognising where you’re strong, where you need to improve, and how you’re going to get there”.

And third, say yes to everything. “We offer loads of opportunities for live practice, advocacy, interviews, written feedback, and my advice is to take every one of them,” she says. “Even if you’re nervous. Even if you feel like you’re not ready. Give it a go. That’s where the growth happens”.

It’s this growth mindset, and the belief that legal skill is something that can be developed, that defines Julie’s approach to teaching. She sees her role as not just an educator, but as a confidence coach of sorts, helping students see the value in their own voice and perspective.

And it’s clearly a space she thrives in. “I’ve had a lot of variety in my career so far,” she reflects, “but I always come back to this work. Helping people develop, seeing those shifts in understanding, it’s incredibly rewarding. It keeps me excited about what we do here at BPP”.

Join us TOMORROW for our virtual student event “SQE2 taster workshop — with BPP”.

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Insider insights on everything from real estate and restructuring to tax, disputes and trainee tips

The Legal Cheek Spring 2025 Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair, run in partnership with The University of Law (ULaw), welcomed thousands of students for three jam-packed days of insight into life at leading commercial law firms.

Across the Scheme, attendees explored practice areas spanning real estate, private equity, tax, disputes and more, with exclusive case study-led workshops delivered by lawyers and lecturers from some of the biggest names in the business.

Here’s the lowdown…

Day 1

Session 1: Real estate

The speakers:

• Rachel Munro, senior associate (real estate) at Shoosmiths
• Chelsea Collins, trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths
• Monda Ajazi, trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths

The lowdown:

The first session of the 2025 Spring Vacation Scheme focused on the world of real estate and took the form of Q&A with Shoosmiths senior associate Rachel Munro and trainees Monda Ajazi and Chelsea Collins.

The trio began by reflecting on their career journeys to date, before turning to current trends shaping the real estate sector. These included fluctuating interest rates, the drive for greater energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, as well as the influence of changing political parties and their differing views on housebuilding.

Munro also highlighted the growing impact of AI in the sector — particularly in managing tenant data and streamlining the process of gathering information to value land and property.

Ajazi and Collins went on to outline some of the key tasks trainees can expect to undertake within the real estate team. These include drafting client emails, conducting property searches and carrying out research assignments.

The session concluded with a discussion of the case study, in which vacation scheme participants took on the role of trainees assisting a client with a property purchase. As part of the exercise, they were tasked with drafting a list of questions — known as ‘requisitions on title’ — to be sent to the seller’s solicitors.

Session 2: Private equity

The speakers:

• Harry Buchanan, associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher

The lowdown:

Kicking off the session, Buchanan explained that private equity lawyers act for private equity firms on the purchase and sale of stakes in companies. At Willkie, private equity lawyers act for a range of clients on the purchase of a vast array of companies, with examples ranging from FTV Capital’s purchase of Zoovu to Bain Capital’s acquisition of Gail’s bakery.

Buchanan then delved into how private equity transactions work, breaking down the structure of private equity funds and how private equity firms identify suitable investment targets – with key factors including a clear exit strategy, strong management team, favourable industry trends and a competitive business plan.

Besides this, Buchanan also stressed the importance of due diligence, the different areas that legal diligence covers, and how junior lawyers play a fundamental role in this process. Broadly, the due diligence process serves to identify any red flags in a potential target company before an investment is made, and can include financial, legal, tax, commercial, technology and environmental diligence.

At the end of the session, Buchanan urged aspiring solicitors to seek out further insight opportunities to understand what commercial lawyers really do, as this knowledge will prove invaluable in the law firm application process.

Session 3: Employability Expo

The speakers:

• Dipa Mandal, senior lecturer at The University of Law (ULaw)
• Mandi Kaur, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Adam White, student recruitment officer at ULaw
• Louise Musgrave, student recruitment manager at ULaw
• Jay Rees, student recruitment manager at ULaw

The lowdown:

The SQE Explained

Helen Avis, senior tutor at ULaw, led the session with a breakdown of the new route to qualification as a solicitor through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Avis explained that the old LPC and training contract route is being phased out and replaced by SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, alongside two years of qualifying work experience (QWE). She detailed the structure of the exams, and how SQE1 tests legal knowledge while SQE2 focuses on practical legal skills, such as client interviewing, advocacy and legal drafting, across key areas like criminal law, business law and property.

She then introduced ULaw’s SQE preparation courses, which include tailored modules in corporate, commercial and private client practice areas, alongside a 7,500-word research project. The session wrapped up with a look at the flexibility of the SQE route, which may offer a quicker and more adaptable route to qualification than the traditional path.

Firm Research and Applications

Mandi Kaur, ULaw student recruitment manager, kicked off the session by detailing the importance of thorough research, arguing that you should be demonstrating how a specific firm suits your career aspirations.

Kaur then went on to argue that applications are a two-way process, explaining that it’s not only important for the firm to think the candidate is the right fit, but that the candidate also feels certain that the firm is the right place for them – with location, trainee intake, secondment opportunities and the firm’s key practice areas being some important aspects to consider.

Kaur then moved on to the applications portion of the session, where she discussed some of the key skills aspiring solicitors should be including in their applications. Commercial awareness, attention to detail and teamwork are some of the examples used during the session, with the use of the STAR method being commended to ensure effective and on-topic responses from applicants.

The session wrapped up by Kaur providing some practical advice to students, with proof reading, leaving yourself sufficient time and honesty being some of the key points to consider.

Writing Effective CVs and Cover Letters

White began his advice on writing effective CVs by outlining the typical structure of a legal CV. Under the work experience section, key action words must be included in the bullet points highlighting key responsibilities, he explained. He then delved into the principles that underpin both the style and content of an effective CV. To wrap up the first half of his presentation, White offered practical tips on printing and mailing physical copies when required by employers.

When it came to cover letters, White recommended using the person specification often found under job listings as a guide. This, he stressed, will help applicants tailor the letter to the specific role. White also supplied the structure of a typical letter, discussed the elements that make a letter stand out, before concluding the presentation by explaining the techniques of handling mitigating circumstances.

Ace your Interviews Workshop

During this session, ULaw student recruitment managers Louise Musgrave and Jay Rees shared their top tips for acing law firm interviews. Both began by breaking down the types of interview you may encounter, and the various factors to consider when approaching each one.

The workshop then delved into the types of questions you can expect, particularly those concerning commercial awareness and knowledge of the industry, as well as competency-based questions. When tackling these questions, Musgrave and Rees both highlighted the importance of using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly structure your answers and create a good impression.

Day 2

Session 1: Finance

The speakers:

• Kevin Howes, partner at Slaughter and May
• Jessie Smith, trainee solicitor at Slaughter and May

The lowdown:

Slaughter and May’s Kevin Howes (partner) and Jessie Smith (trainee) talked all things finance and Magic Circle lawyer life for Legal Cheek’s third session of the 2025 Spring Vacation Scheme.

The session began with Kevin (“Kev”) and Jessie explaining their backgrounds, why Slaughters, and describing just what finance law is – along with deals and commercial points. Firstly, Kevin studied law and made partner with an entire career based at Slaughter and May, whilst Jessie converted to law after studying classics: about half of lawyers at Slaughters undertake the conversion route.

Kev discussed the way finance plugs into other practice areas, from real estate to tax, and emphasised Slaughter and May’s multi-specialist approach to training and client care at a full-service firm. Jessie’s perspective was very insightful on her two seats in the finance team, totalling six months.

They discussed household name clients from ASOS to Diageo (Guinness!) with Jessie being involved in the LIBOR test case for client Standard Chartered as a trainee. This fed nicely into exploring the different micro-specialisms in the finance department, which fall under two “hubs” – restructuring and insolvency and infrastructure – from technical derivatives to Kev’s favourite, debt capital markets. The field has cutting-edge commercial and legal impact.

Attendees were treated to a full daily schedule, from breakfast training sessions to urgent board meetings to coffee stops and Netflix — though noting no two days were the same.

The session concluded with a Q&A, talking lawtech and the key skills the firm looks for — including flexibility, resilience, and a positive attitude — before the take-home message to stay interested in the world and think about commercial knock-on effects all around you, from geopolitics to a covid’s impact on cinemas.

Day 3

Session 1: Restructuring and insolvency

The speakers:

• Sarah Robinson, senior associate (restructuring) at Pinsent Masons
• Caitlan Smith, associate (restructuring) at Pinsent Masons
• Joanne Ault, international graduate recruitment & development advisor at Pinsent Masons

The lowdown:

Samantha Poulton and Caitlan Smith, associates at Pinsent Masons, kicked off their presentation by sharing insight into their career journeys to date. Both worked as paralegals prior to starting their training contracts, with Poulton arguing that it provided her with a good understanding of how businesses and law firms operate.

During the discussion, Poulton recommended completing vacation schemes where possible, arguing that it gives students a fantastic insight into life at a firm and helps candidates ensure the firm is the right fit for them.

The pair then moved on to share insight into the work restructuring lawyers do, with Smith highlighting that trainees usually get involved in drafting application documents, preparing for hearings, legal research and much more – with both Smith and Poulton emphasising that the work the team completes is varied.

Wrapping up the presentation, the pair highlighted the importance of seeking out as many opportunities as possible, ending the presentation by urging students to push themselves and stay committed to ensure success in their career.

Moving on to the Q&A, we were joined by Joanne Ault, who discussed what the firm looks for in its trainees. Ault argued that a clear interest in commercial law and commercial awareness are crucial – with Ault wrapping up the session by discussing the key opportunities Pinsent Masons has to offer.

Session 2: Tax

The speakers:

• Tom Eyre-Brook, counsel (corporate & finance) at Hogan Lovells
• Ellie Pardy, associate (tax and incentives) at Hogan Lovells

The lowdown:

Kicking off the session, Tom Eyre-Brook and Ellie Pardy gave an introduction to their career journeys into law, and into tax law. With non-law backgrounds, both lawyers explained the value of bringing diverse experience to any practice.

Eyre-Brook and Pardy explained that tax lawyers advise clients on the tax implications of a wide range of transactions, helping them structure deals in a way that is commercially efficient and legally compliant. At Hogan Lovells, tax lawyers work alongside corporate teams on matters such as mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and financings, advising clients across the board from investment firms and multinational corporations to financial institutions.

Pardy and Eyre-Brook then delved into how tax law underpins these transactions and how structuring choices can significantly affect a deal’s overall cost or feasibility. They explained that a key part of the role is understanding both domestic tax rules and the cross-border implications of international deals.

At the end of the session, they encouraged aspiring solicitors to dig deeper into practice areas like tax, which are often misunderstood or overlooked, but which play a vital role in high-stakes commercial work. A strong grasp of what tax lawyers actually do, she noted, can help candidates stand out during law firm applications and interviews.

Session 3: Disputes

The speakers:

• Georgia Henderson-Cleland, senior associate (business and commercial disputes) at BCLP
• James Hall, barrister at Gatehouse Chambers
• Nicole Kalli, lecturer at ULaw

The lowdown:

Henderson-Cleland kicked off the final substantive session of the Scheme with an overview of life as a disputes solicitor. She outlined the tasks that solicitors undertake for client and case management, as well as the skills required to handle them. Her love for litigation, she revealed, stems from its variety. In fact, her tasks for the day included advising on the litigation risks for a corporate restructure, preparing a Russian law expert report, and speaking with the accountants working on a calculation for a corporate dispute.

As a barrister, Hall provided a different perspective into disputes. While acknowledging that strong people skills are essential for both barristers and solicitors, he noted how they are applied in very different contexts. He also shared insights into his academic and career journey, including the experiences that led him to specialise in professional negligence, as well as property and commercial litigation. After giving a whistle-stop tour of some of the most interesting cases over his long career, Hall concluded his talk by encouraging aspiring lawyers to ‘be ready for opportunities and seize them when you get them’.

Kalli discussed her career path, which began in real estate litigation as a solicitor, before the pandemic prompted her to re-evaluate and transition into teaching. She gave a rundown of the most topical commercial issues aspiring lawyers should be aware of, such as how AI is streamlining the dispute resolution process.

The speakers then came together for a Q&A session, diving deeper still into their motivations for pursing their current career paths, as well as the skills and qualities aspiring disputes lawyers should develop. To round off the session, they discussed key points for students to consider in the case study exercise, such as the costs associated with litigation, and whether it is the best way to resolve the dispute.

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