I found College great preparation for university. While you are afforded a lot of independence, you’re highly supported by great quality teaching, the Careers team and initiatives such as Aspire.
Having the opportunity to get involved in lots of extra-curricular activities such as the Law Society, Debating and Model United Nations also gave me lots to talk about in my university application. It also gave me the confidence to get involved in similar clubs and societies when I started university.
College also ran a helpful LNAT session for those of us taking this exam. When it comes applying to law firms later, you’ll find they use a lot of psychometric testing so I appreciated honing these skills early.
After leaving College, I studied Law at Durham, and I enjoyed it so much that I stayed on to do a master’s. My research master’s considered the impact of new biotechnology developments in reproductive healthcare, such as uterine transplants and artificial wombs. I looked at outcomes for neonates and the potential impact that widespread use of these technologies might have on abortion regulation. I was invited to present my research to leading academics in the field at a conference in Northern Ireland – something that was definitely out of my comfort zone, but really rewarding!
When I left university, I worked as a Paralegal at a family law firm in Reigate and really enjoyed the variety of work. Every day was different, from speaking to clients on the phone, to drafting court applications and attending court hearings. It was interesting to work on cases from start to finish and I learnt lots about how law firms operate, knowledge that definitely helped me secure my next role.
This September, I am joining Bird & Bird LLP at their London office to start my two-year training contract. Over two years, I get to choose four different departments of the firm to ‘sit’ in for six months at a time, which will help me to decide which area of law I want to qualify into.
But before that, I’m studying the LLM SQE 1&2. The SQE is a new set of exams that you need to pass to qualify as a Solicitor. It’s an intense year, with rigorous exams plus a master’s programme over summer, where you pick different modules to prepare yourself for starting work. For example, I’ve chosen a module in intellectual property, as the law firm I’m joining has this specialism. One example of this kind of work is the firm representing Lidl in a dispute with Tesco involving its Clubcard logo, which a court deemed a trademark infringement of Lidl’s own logo.
For students who are keen to go into law I’d recommend getting as much work experience early on, even though it can be tricky when you’re under 18. It helps you to explore the areas of law that you might be interested in and you also have something to talk about in your personal statement.
The Careers team were super supportive with this, signposting opportunities and suggesting a visit to the Old Bailey public viewing gallery to watch a case in action, which was fascinating.
One thing I didn’t know when I was at College is that there are so many different pathways into law: more law firms now offer Solicitor Apprenticeships, where you can do your degree alongside working. Also, if there is another subject you’re really interested in that you want to pursue at degree level and then go into law after that it’s totally normal – out of my trainee cohort people have a range of degrees, including Politics, Engineering and Medicine!
Francesca Mesure
Reigate College: 2017-2019
Higher Education: Durham University, Law LLB and Master of Jurisprudence
Currently: LLM SQE 1&2, University of Law before joining Bird & Bird LLP as a Trainee Solicitor
