Can you tell us about your background and journey to the legal profession?
I grew up in India, coming to the UK for the first time to study law here. I had a lot to learn on my own: from applying to university, to applying to firms, no one around me knew anything and I definitely felt behind from the start. I missed applying to Oxbridge because I didn’t know they had an earlier deadline. I spent the first year of uni learning what ‘barrister’ and ‘solicitor’ means rather than applying to schemes. My first real application cycle was only after graduating. That’s what makes me proud of initiatives like AS, so a student in my position would know where to look, with someone to help them on the way in.
How has Aspiring Solicitors and our various programmes/initiatives helped you achieve your success?
The AS Commercial Awareness Competition was a defining moment for me. I entered just to learn as much as I could, and see how far I would get, never imagining I could be a winner. Over each round, I was able to challenge myself and develop a genuine passion for commercial law, which I did not truly have while applying to firms before. Not only did CAC open a door to brilliant firms and inspiring fellow competitors, but the next time I wrote an application or gave an interview, I had complete confidence in myself and why I wanted to be there. I truly believe there is no better, more authentic opportunity for an aspiring commercial lawyer out there. I also really benefited from Headstart, helping me convert me prepare for my vacation schemes.
What advice would you give to AS Members?
I would ask every aspiring solicitor to enter the AS Commercial Awareness Competition. Give it your all. No matter what stage you get to, you will challenge yourself, learn what commercial awareness genuinely entails, and get to to network with fantastic peers and law firms. It’s an opportunity which fully engages you, it’s unlike any other.
Sign up for every AS initiative you can: they are not only passively informative but bring the most out of you, giving you an opportunity to develop and boost your applications and interviews with real understanding.
