Samantha H

Profile:

I am an Associate in the Aviation, Rail and Leasing team at Stephenson Harwood LLP. I joined the firm in July 2022.

I am originally from Newcastle and studied law at the University of Sunderland. Although I graduated with a first class degree and top of my class, I had no previous legal experience and consequently found it difficult to secure my first paralegal role. I therefore decided to use the time wisely and went travelling to Asia and Australia (and ended up travelling for a year and a half!).

Whilst travelling I continued to apply for legal roles and secured my first legal role back in the UK as Law Clinic Manager at the University of Sunderland’s pro-bono law office. After my contract there ended, I studied the LPC at Northumbria University and worked part-time as a paralegal. Following graduation, I secured a paralegal role at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP in the Projects and Procurement team and then moved to London and trained in-house at Transport for London. I then joined the Commercial Real Estate team at Forsters shortly after qualifying and moved to Stephenson Harwood in July 2022

I understand how competitive the legal profession is, and how difficult it can be to obtain your first legal position or training contract. Through my various legal roles, I have been fortunate enough to meet many people in the industry who have provided me with advice and (though they might disagree) have helped me to get to where I am today. I believe that everyone deserves an equal chance to be part of the legal profession regardless of background and hope that I can use my experience to help others.

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

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