Chay N

Profile:

I am a Solicitor currently working for the Government Legal Department (GLD) in the Special Advocates’ Support Office. I was admitted to the roll of solicitors on 15 November 2018 and in January 2019 I joined the GLD. Upon joining the GLD I was automatically enrolled onto a junior lawyers scheme called the 2+2, whereby I would be required to work 2 years in a contentious post and a further 2 years in a non-contentious advisory post. The scheme is intended to help newly qualified lawyers to develop a broader range of skills and stay ‘fresh’ in working on different areas of law and in new environments. My first litigation post was spent working from January 2019 until May 2020 in the Immigration Division where I handled a large caseload of immigration judicial review cases. From May 2020 to April 2021 I worked for the Ministry of Justice within the Justice & Development Division, defending judicial review challenges against the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Treasury. For my advisory stint, I worked from 1 April 2021 to 21 April 2023 within the legal advisors office at the Department for Education.

Growing up I had no idea what I wanted to be, but I knew I wanted a career where I could utilise my analytical and problem solving skills to help people. I knew that the law would help me do this and would allow me to help make a positive difference to society. However when I got BBC for my A levels, I was almost certain that my dream of becoming a Solicitor was over. Thankfully however, I was accepted to Brighton University to study Law with Business, LLB. Despite obtaining a high 2.1 in my degree and passing my LPC I found that when I was applying for training contracts my A levels were a constant barrier. I realised I had to enhance my CV in other ways, so I set about securing a variety of different legal work experiences and mini-pupillages to set myself apart from the competition.

In 2016, I was lucky enough to get a training contract. I finally thought my troubles of securing my legal career had passed, until I was made redundant 6 months into my training contract. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. It felt like everything I had been working towards for the past 7 years had been taken from me.

However after a month of re-applying for training contracts and with the help of some non-legal contacts I managed to secure another training contract where I was thankfully able to continue my training. I qualified in November 2018 from a private practice firm called Seth Lovis & Co.

My experiences have taught me that it doesn’t necessarily matter what A levels you got or what uni you went to. What matters is having the drive, passion and determination to get the career you want. I hope to encourage other aspiring lawyers who face adversity that they can overcome these stereotypical barriers to enter the legal profession.

Feel free to contact me with questions or anything! I am happy to help!

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