Lauren H

Profile:

I am an Associate in the Real Estate team at global law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. I studied the GDL and LPC LLM at the University of Law in London, Moorgate, and studied History as my undergraduate degree at the University of Sussex.

The legal profession has a long way to go in many areas but with organisations such as Aspiring Solicitors (AS) we can make change happen. Before obtaining my training contract I gained a wide variety of legal work experience at a range of law firms across the South East, as well as some in-house experience at Barclays HQ. I also volunteered at my local Citizens Advice Bureau. I did not complete any formal vacation schemes, instead gradually building my CV over several years alongside my studies. With no connections in the legal profession, it was by no means an easy ride to gain this experience and I certainly met a lot of rejection! Along the way AS provided me with multiple opportunities to learn about life as a City lawyer. Perhaps more importantly, though, it encouraged me to realise that diversity really is a strength, and consistently made the prospect of securing a training contract seem much more possible.

It sounds corny but it’s true: believe in yourself and you’re halfway there. I cannot overemphasise how useful it was to speak with other like-minded AS members with similar backgrounds to myself. To know that they were in my shoes just a matter of months previously was incredibly reassuring. For this reason I am honoured to be an AS Professional Ambassador and I am more than happy to help future applicants in any way that I can.

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