I decided to come to the UK from Romania to study law in London. I knew nothing about the legal profession or about the City law firms. As I grew up in a different legal system, I thought that I could qualify immediately after attending law school. I had faced obstacles in the application process as I was unfamiliar with the forms and psychometric tests. However, despite the competitive nature of the field, I had a dream of qualifying as a commercial law solicitor.
I initially took part in the AS First scheme which helped me with applying for First Year Schemes and introduced me to the legal profession in UK and the various opportunities available. It provided me a strong foundation of how to apply for different roles as well as to understand the wider implications of commercial law.
A fundamental programme in my success was the BCLP Academy. I cannot thank the coaches enough who advised me during the coaching calls and helped me to understand the firm and its commercial objectives. They offered me an invaluable support in applying for the firm and securing a Vacation Scheme. Through the Academy, BCLP has greatly widened the access to the profession by providing us the oppotunity to attend an Open Day and discuss with the firms employees. Its involvement in our professional development demonstrates that it was truly committed from day one to invest in our growth.The event and vacation scheme showcased BCLP’s inclusive and open culture. I did not not know a lot of people from a Romanian background in the profession but through BCLP Academy, I felt welcomed and helped to enter into the commercial law world.
