Ria

Profile:

I recently joined Linklaters as an Associate and prior to that worked at Barclays Bank, in the Global Commercial team. Prior to my role at Barclays I completed a training contract at Simmons & Simmons LLP.

I did not follow a traditional route to law, studying English Literature at the University of Bristol, and only decided to become a solicitor during the final year of my degree. Following the CPE conversion course and the LPC I spent 1 year full time studying Simmons’ in-house MBA in Legal Services.

Diversity in the legal industry is important to me personally, because as a woman of mixed race, and with a state school education and no law degree, I understand the challenges that may be faced by someone who does not fit the traditional mould. Equally, I attended a Russell Group university and had tremendous social and familial support in getting to where I am today, and I would like to make a difference in helping those who may not have the same advantages. I have been committed to this throughout my legal career, and have been involved in various initiatives to promote diversity, including mentoring a sixth form student, attending campus events, and representing my peers on my firm’s women’s network committee. Finally I believe that diversity is important to the legal industry commercially; a more diverse workforce will have more flexibility and greater innovation to cope with changing market conditions.

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