Alisha R

BPP university alumni

Profile:

I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a law degree but no Training Contract. I had a graduate scheme offer from PWC which I took up for a year that confirmed that I did not want to do accountancy but still pursue law. Still with no offers, I undertook an LLM in International Business Law in September 2015, which really assisted in developing my commercial awareness and honed my skill of selecting firms that did work in areas I was genuinely interested in. It was also the same time that I became a member of Aspiring Solicitors which was the real catalyst in me successfully securing multiple Vacation Schemes and a Training Contract offer from Watson Farley & Williams in March 2016.

Despite completing Vacation Schemes during University, I still struggled with the process having no contacts in the industry to guide me. Attending AS Open Days at City firms not only helped with my confidence, but enabled me to create my own mini legal network that I could use to my advantage when it came to writing applications. The advice and encouragement I received from Gemma over many anxious phone conversations was invaluable in helping me feel like a career in commercial law was still something I was able to achieve! I’m a solid believer in not just ‘you being the right type for the firm’, but the firm being truly the right type for you. Whilst it is easy to send off blanket applications to a multitude of firms, it really doesn’t correlate to success.

If you feel like you’re losing hope, I’ve been there. As a result, I’d be delighted to talk over any concerns or queries you may have about applications, interviews and the process in general.

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