As a woman of Black heritage, specifically of Nigerian descent, educated in a state school with low levels of progression to higher education and having attended a non-Russell Group university, with no family or personal contacts in law, entering the profession felt distant and overwhelming. Resultantly, I met multiple criteria for underrepresented groups accessing the legal field. Yet, this sparked a drive within me to commit wholeheartedly to my goals, fuelling my ambition and inspiring me to work with greater focus and purpose.
Unexpectedly, I discovered Aspiring Solicitors on LinkedIn during the first year of my LLB and immediately took full advantage of the opportunities available through the organisation. I signed up for the Women in Law event, which allowed me to network with like-minded students navigating their legal journeys and with qualified professionals from a range of international firms. Initially, networking was challenging, without any prior experience and entering university without role models or alumni to look up to. However, it encouraged me to become comfortable with discomfort, as the fulfilment of my goals required this sentiment.
Inevitably, I faced despair and imposter syndrome in the face of rejections, particularly due to the lack of lawyers I came across with an ‘unconventional’ background like mine. Yet, I calmly resisted, reassuring myself that I could be the standard and continued pressing forward to achieve my ambitions. With this spirit, I embraced all the experiences that AS had to offer, which made the journey seamless and significantly enhanced my understanding of Commercial Law in the City.
In 2023, I attended ASAP, Elevate, the Virtual Diversity Law Fair and was a mentee under the exclusive four-month Aspire programme, to which I owe credit for laying the foundation of my Commercial legal knowledge to date. Additionally, before commencing my Summer Vacation Scheme at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in June 2025, I was privileged to attend AS HeadStart, hosted by May Newton, which fortified my knowledge and provided beneficial tips for succeeding on the Scheme.
