Eleanor H

Profile:

I am an Associate in the Structured Debt (SABRE) department at Clifford Chance, having also done seats in International Construction, Banking & Finance, and Energy & Infrastructure during my Training Contract at the firm. Prior to this, I studied Politics, International Relations and Spanish at Warwick University, followed by the PGDL and accelerated LPC.

Arriving at Warwick, I had no idea how to break into corporate law as a non-law student with no ties to the legal profession. I struggled to balance academia, applications, and working 30 hours a week as a waitress to support myself financially. It was not until I signed up to AS First that I began to understand the profession and how to write a successful application – to any first years, I can’t recommend the programme enough!

Being Deaf, neurodivergent (ADHD, autism and dyspraxia) and having multiple long-term health conditions and chronic pain, I worried that my disabilities would hold me back and make others believe that I was not capable, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. AS gave me the confidence to stop hiding my Deafness from law firms and to request the Reasonable Adjustments I needed. Prior to this, I was trying to guess my way through phone interviews – unsurprisingly, this wasn’t very successful! The incredible support continued on AS Aspire. The one-to-one coaching was invaluable in helping me secure multiple first-year schemes across my first two years at university. From these first-year schemes, I secured direct Training Contract offers from two Magic Circle firms, ultimately accepting my offer at Clifford Chance.

Coming from a background with no connections to law, being the only one in my family with a post-16 education, and being disabled, I am all too aware of the feeling of imposter syndrome and how this can hinder you. I am more than happy to help in any way possible, so please feel free to reach out with any questions or for a chat about getting into the profession.

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