Oli A

Profile:

I started working when I was 15, learning the value of money and hard work. At 16 I moved and became a waiter/Bartender where I stayed for two years developing vital soft skills like communication and teamwork. Here I worked with a team to deliver a service to clients that was deemed exceptional, and I received many outstanding reviews commenting on my personability and communication.

While working up to 35 hours a week, I was committed to full time sixth form study. Balancing these commitments was hard but also important to me as I could appreciate the value of my independence and having a ‘if you want it go and get it’ mindset.

So, in my final year at sixth form I applied for 50 apprentice programmes in London and received numerous offers. I would like to support other people who come from difficult backgrounds to get into the legal field which is dominated by those with opportunities that many disadvantaged students don’t have.

I was once told by a careers advisor not to bother applying to solicitor apprenticeship programmes due to my sexual orientation. I used that prejudice to fuel my motivation further, eventually securing the place I wanted the most. Being state school educated, I found it hard to fit in. I was ‘outed’; and subsequently bullied for my sexual orientation. When I reached GCSEs, I had established an LGBT inclusive network in the school and supported students on their own personal journeys.

Within Dentons, I am becoming an integral part of the LGBT society. I believe that it’s important for young people to see the opportunities in law firms that can arise despite of your identity or background. I want to be a part of supporting students and helping them succeed despite the barriers they may face.

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