“Set your goals, start preparing early and use the resources available to you – you will find the right firm for you!”
1. What do you most admire about the law?
Continuous learning in Law:
Law is always changing and improving! Therefore, there are always challenges that need to be addressed for the law to remain relevant and purposeful for the public. It is also a subject that requires a person to learn continually to be able to best advise our clients in an ever-changing society. This keeps it really interesting!
The parallel nature in Law:
One of my favourite modules from university was private international law and I wrote my final year dissertation on it. My degree also involved studying both Scots law and English law in a dual-qualifying LLB. I really enjoy comparing and contrasting the law of separate legal systems and jurisdictions. It gives us an understanding of culture in different countries, especially in the present, where there is a rapid growth of economic globalisation and an increasing importance of global co-operation.
2. What motivated you to start your platform/ What issues did you look to resolve when starting it?
Give a personal insight in securing a training contract to aspiring solicitors:
When I first started writing to apply for Training Contracts, I realized how competitive the application process was. According to All About Law, there are roughly 5,500 training contracts available in the UK, and around 30,000 people applying to secure these places each year (2019 statistics). After I was offered my Training Contract at CMS, I founded 'See Through Law' to help others on their legal journey and offer a platform to share the tips and tricks I used to secure my TC.
I think the simplest way to inspire someone is to share your own personal experiences in circumstances that the reader is also facing. By sharing my personal journey in gaining a Training Contract, I hope I can give a more in-depth insight into the application processes and answer the questions relating to experience working at City Law Firms.
Challenging the concept of 'traditional applicant':
It is no secret that many aspiring solicitors suffer from imposter syndrome – I did for sure. Suppose you are a student from a non-Russell Group university. In that case, you will find yourself doubting your abilities in securing a Training Contract, especially at larger firms, whilst competing with students studying in Russell Group universities. As the first person in my family to go to university and to have secured a Training Contract at a global corporate law firm, I hope that my story inspires others to pursue careers in law. I think the legal field is definitely becoming more diverse and I hope my journey helps to defeat the misconception that only students from Oxbridge and top Russell Group universities can secure Training Contracts at global law firms. There is definitely a skill and a technique in writing a successful Training Contract application, and this is something that my platform aims to help aspiring solicitors with!
3. Can you describe your platform in 3 words?
Concise:
The content of See Through Law is clear and concise. I try my best to keep the content easy to follow and digest for my readers. My blogs are written in a straight-forward manner, without legal jargon to aid you in your journey towards a Vacation Scheme or Training Contract. I also use a lot of lists in my blogs which you can use as checklists!
Motivational:
The purpose of starting See Through Law is to encourage and motivate individuals on their legal journey. It’s extremely competitive in the legal field and the application processes can be daunting, but don’t let this discourage you!
Impartial:
Although I’m a future trainee solicitor at CMS, my tips and tricks for Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts are universal! I also have a section on my website called “Amelia’s blog” where I share about all the different webinars I participate in as an attendee or panellist, any virtual internships I complete etc. If you haven't already yet, check out my experience completing the Latham & Watkins merger and acquisitions virtual internship. (A must-read!)
I also collaborate with a wide range of people, companies, firms and societies (student and professional) – I blog about all of these too. To anyone reading this, if you’d like to collaborate on something, please do just get in touch!
4. What do you aim to achieve by the end of 2020?
Share my knowledge and experience with as many aspiring solicitors as I can:
I aim to help aspiring solicitors gain Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts by sharing about my journey, as well as the tricks and tips I used. I want to improve their prospect of succeeding and be part of their journey in securing a Training Contract!
5. What are you long term goals for this platform?
Providing personal insight to transition as a lawyer:
Currently, my blogs are based on my experiences as a Law student and future trainee solicitor. My Training Contract will commence in August 2021 so after this, I aim to use See Through Law to also share my legal journey as a CMS trainee solicitor. I’ll be able to provide more detailed insights into the actual workings of a law firm, what I get up to as a trainee (within the terms of my confidentiality agreement, of course) and what others can expect in the life of a trainee. You can also expect to read blogs on topics such as to the secondments I want to go on as I take you with me across the journey of qualifying as an associate at a global law firm!
6. Where can I find out more about your platform?
You can catch up on my posts by connecting with me on LinkedIn or visiting my website, ‘See Through Law’. You can also email me any further questions!
See Through Law is a must-visit website for all aspiring solicitors!
7. What is the best law related shows/movie that you have watched?
Have you ever watched The Good Wife? It is a show based on a woman who gets cheated on by her politician husband. Alicia, the protagonist of this legal drama, shows the journey of a woman who overcomes personal and professional obstacles to build a law career and run for office. (Inspiring plot isn't it!) Honestly, it’s a lot more drama than law, but a good show to watch, nonetheless.
Watch the sneak peek of the good wife (season 1) below!
Also, I used to watch Suits but stopped watching the series after Meghan Markle left. (At LawMiracle, we wholeheartedly agree with this statement!)
8. What area of practice would you like to specialise in and why?
There is still time to confirm this, but I’d like to pursue litigation as an area as it has always been of particular interest to me and it’s the seat that I completed during my Vacation Scheme at CMS. I think that I am a contentious person, rather than a transactional person, and enjoy the variation that comes with working in litigation. For instance, at CMS in Scotland, we have a large commercial litigation department who cover a wide range of litigation, so I was always doing something new!
9. What is the best thing that has happened in your journey so far?
There are two things that I am proud to have achieved in my journey so far:
Getting a training contract:
Despite strong competition, being the first in my family to attend university and the stereotypical notion that global law firms prefer applicants graduating from top Russell-group universities, I was proud when I secured a Training Contract at one of the world's largest law firms. I really hope that my journey will inspire others and I’m always more than happy to be reached out to if anyone would like to know more about me or my journey!
Getting excellent feedback on my content:
It is always great to help aspiring solicitors, and it feels even more significant when the result of my contributions brings joy to those I’ve have helped secure something that they wanted. Ever since I founded my platform, I have received great feedback on my content. This has motivated me to continue posting new content that will give my readers a better insight into the application processes for Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts. It’s always encouraging when my connections reach out to me to say that I’ve helped them in some way – I really appreciate it!
Your Platform, their Testimonials!
