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I am an Associate in Farrer & Co’s Reputation Management team, having qualified in September 2016, specialising in privacy, defamation, contentious IP, harassment, blackmail and data protection. I started my training contract in 2014 and completed seats in the firm’s Corporate, Commercial Property, Charities and Disputes departments. My undergraduate degree is in History from the University of Birmingham (where I graduated in 2011) and I went on to study the GDL and LPC at the University of Law in London.

I understand the incredible challenges facing those wishing to enter the legal profession. The application process is a slog and it was through hard work, effective networking and the help from a number of mentors that I was able to eventually secure my training contract at Farrers, nearly three years after I sent off my first application and without having completed a vacation scheme here. At times, it’s easy to slip into the resignation that you won’t be successful, but my experience has shown me that if you want to be a lawyer and you put your mind to it, you will be. Facing numerous rejections is a demoralising process and the first hurdle is realising that the search for a training contract is a job in itself.

Having gained consistent work experience (in a number of different sectors) and having spoken with a number of practising solicitors in the years leading up to my training contract, I was in a good position to explain why I wanted a career in law as well as getting the opportunity to develop – and being able to demonstrate in my applications – a huge variety of skills that I could put to use in law. It is a hugely competitive market, but being able to show initiative, aspiration and perseverance are skills that are highly valued and ones that shouldn’t be restricted by background.

Clients are expecting more from their lawyers nowadays and, in turn, graduate recruiters are expecting more from those applying. I am happy to try and help answer any questions that you may have.

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