Oliver W

My Law Firm

Profile:

I am from North Wales and studied Geography at Durham University. Following my graduation in 2018, I completed an internship at an environmental law firm, which prompted me to pursue a career as a solicitor. I then dedicated my time to securing a Training Contract and was fortunate enough to attain two vacation scheme places. After completing the vacation schemes, I gladly accepted a Training Contract offer from Mayer Brown. I then studied the GDL and LPC at BPP University, before starting my Training Contract in September 2021.

To support myself financially in University and when applying for Training Contracts, I held several part-time job positions, which included working as a lifeguard, swimming teacher, tutor and personal trainer. I am the first-generation of my direct family to go to university or to pursue a career in the legal profession. I often believed my pursuit of a Training Contract was made more difficult by these factors, since I felt I lacked legal contacts and an understanding of the ‘soft-skills’ of the profession in comparison to other applicants. However, I eventually began to perceive my diverse background as a strength with the support of Aspiring Solicitors and others who have felt similar, which was crucial to me attaining a Training Contract.

As demonstrated by the success of Aspiring Solicitors, those with more diverse backgrounds like myself are far more regularly entering the profession. This is important to the future success of the legal profession, since a diverse workforce promotes diversity of thought, which can generate more innovative legal and business advice.

If you want to discuss how to help perceive your diverse background as an asset and/or any other matters, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me.

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