A peer recommended AS to me, during my second year of university. From then, AS significantly helped me throughout my journey to obtaining a training contract at my dream firm.
At the beginning of my training contract journey, I focused on enhancing my knowledge of the commercial field. I was selected for the AS Access Programme in partnership with LexisNexis and A&O Shearman. I honed my legal research skills and learnt about the importance of commercial awareness, by analysing articles and learning the implications of news stories on clients. I later attended AS Aspire 2022, whereby I honed my application drafting abilities.
AS provided amazing opportunities to interact with law firm representatives and hear from lawyers possessing diverse backgrounds. Opportunities included virtual law fairs, mentoring schemes, and events, including the AS Social Mobility event with Clyde & Co. This strengthened my understanding of different firms, and allowed me to find the best firm for me.
Through AS opportunities, I learnt the differences between in-house and private practice lawyers, from undertaking work experience. The Government Legal Department Diversity Summer Scheme meant that I could compare my experience with my previous internships. From this, I found that I was interested private practice.
AS provided opportunities to hone my interview skills, through offering mock interviews with AS partner firms. Before my interview with Clyde & Co, I had a mock interview with May Newton. This, in combination with the advice that I gained from the HeadStart scheme, really helped during my interview!
