Katie F

Profile:

I am a Trainee Solicitor at Charles Russell Speechlys in Guildford, but I am originally from Derby (with a strong Midlands accent to suit!). My parents met whilst living at the YMCA and had me at a young age, so watching my mum catch up on her education after I started school really showed me how important it is to seek out opportunities and that it is never too late to start on a dream career. Unlike my parents, I benefitted from a number of scholarships and bursaries which allowed me to have a great education but I have always been conscious of the fact that this was an opportunity many people with my background never get. I can relate to students who worked multiple jobs alongside their A Levels but strongly feel that coming from this kind of background can make you an even better lawyer in the future. At university, I was determined to make a contribution to the diversity and inclusion rates there. I was on the Oxford First Generation Students committee, a mentor on the Pathways to Law scheme, and I was Head of Campus Teams at Project Access UK, a non-profit start up fighting for equal access to top universities.

Since starting at Charles Russell Speechlys, I have felt fully comfortable in myself and in celebrating diversity. I have been able to contribute to our pro bono projects, including giving employment advice to those who cannot access advice directly, and I am a keen member of our social mobility committee. I also help people applying for training contracts through LinkedIn.

I am always keen to answer any questions about my experiences, the firm, or generally chat about diversity and careers so don’t hesitate to drop me a message!

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