I am a final-year History undergraduate at Queen Mary University of London. I developed an interest in commercial law early in university by shadowing a property barrister and attending insight days at leading law firms. As a Black male, there have been times I have felt the absence of representation. However, through continued engagement with events, schemes, and networking opportunities, I became more determined in my pursuit of a legal career. Each experience strengthened my understanding of the legal industry and helped me build the confidence and resilience needed to overcome those early doubts.
I benefited from schemes such as AS Elevate and AS Aspire, which enhanced my commercial awareness and provided tailored guidance on applications and interviews. These programmes demystified the recruitment process and gave me the tools and confidence to stand out. I also attended exclusive events with leading firms that allowed me to gain valuable insights into firm cultures as I networked with trainees, associates, and partners.
The most transformative part of my AS journey was being on the Weil Mentoring Scheme. I was paired with a partner mentor at Weil who gave me targeted advice about the firm and commercial law more broadly. Our structured sessions helped me develop commercial fluency, refine my approach, and build confidence at every stage of the application process. Ultimately, this scheme was pivotal in helping me secure a vacation scheme and training contract. In preparation for my vacation scheme, I attended the AS Spring Headstart event, which gave me a clearer idea of what to expect and the mindset to succeed.
