Stephanie Sherrin

Could this be my favourite read so far? From LA acting school to a South Atlantic island, Stephanie’s route into law is proof that the most interesting career changers rarely take the straight road. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!

Q. Thank you for chatting to us, Stephanie. Diving straight in - could you tell us about your journey into the legal sector? I know it's not been a conventional one!

It has been an adventure. I've just graduated from the Open University with a First in Law, and this month I started work as a full-time paralegal. In September I'll begin the LPC LLM with the University of Law as I work towards qualifying as a solicitor.

On paper, it sounds straightforward. It wasn't. I grew up in a single-parent household in rural Cumbria and, at 18, earned a scholarship to an acting school in Los Angeles. Acting wasn’t my thing, but I stayed in the US for almost a decade, building a career in public relations, brand partnerships and experiential marketing, working with global brands including Samsung, Audi and T-Mobile.

When Covid hit, I moved back to the UK to be closer to my family. I joined the Civil Service and started studying law part-time with the Open University. Then I moved to Ascension Island, a tiny volcanic island in the South Atlantic, as the Government's sole policy officer. There, I drafted government-wide policy, supported legislative reform and volunteered as a lay advocate for the Public Solicitor's Office, representing clients in both criminal and civil matters. At the time, I was simply saying yes to opportunities that aligned with what mattered to me.

A question I'm often asked is how I managed to get into law without knowing anyone in the profession. The honest answer is that applying for advertised jobs didn't really work for me. Instead, I approached my career change the same way I'd approached marketing campaigns for years: I treated myself as the product.

I spent time researching firms within commuting distance. I looked at what they specialised in, who their clients were, what values they talked about and what made each one different. Then I asked myself the same question I'd ask any client in PR:

Why should someone choose you instead of everyone else?

Once I could answer that question, writing applications became much easier. Rather than trying to be the perfect legal candidate, I focused on what I genuinely brought with me: communication skills, policy experience, client-facing work, litigation experience, and a real commitment to access to justice.

I contacted firms directly, even when they weren't advertising vacancies. Every email was personalised. Some never replied. Some said no. A few offered unpaid work experience, and eventually I found a firm where the people felt approachable and somewhere I could genuinely build a career.

That experience taught me something I'll carry throughout my career: sometimes opportunities don't come from waiting for the right advert. They come from introducing yourself before anyone knows they're looking for you.

Q. What are some of the most useful transferable skills you've learned along the way?

Learning how to position myself.

People sometimes hear "marketing" and think it's about selling something that isn't there. Good marketing is the opposite. It's understanding what makes something valuable and communicating it clearly. That's exactly what job applications are.

Most applicants tell employers what they've done. The stronger applications explain why those experiences matter. I often encourage people to think about what makes them different.

If someone asked why they should hire you over another candidate, could you answer in thirty seconds? For me, the answer wasn't that I had the most legal experience, because I didn't. It was that I brought years of professional communication, stakeholder management, policy drafting and relationship-building, alongside practical courtroom and police station advocacy experience and a genuine passion for access to justice.

Someone else might bring years in healthcare, education, finance or social care. Maybe they've managed difficult conversations every day for ten years. Maybe they've navigated the benefits system themselves or cared for family members. Those experiences shape how you'll understand clients, solve problems and build trust.

Your previous career isn't something to apologise for. It's often your biggest advantage.

Q. I know you've just finished your degree with the Open University. Do you have any tips for juggling studying with other responsibilities?

I wish I had a magical productivity hack, but it really came down to organisation and accepting that perfection wasn't an option. I studied while working full-time, becoming a mum and moving across the world. Some weeks I felt on top of everything. Other weeks I was reading cases during nap time or writing essays through the night. Calendars became my best friend.

I also became much better at protecting my time. If I knew a deadline was approaching, I planned around it early rather than hoping I'd somehow find extra hours later. One thing the Open University teaches you really well is self-discipline. Nobody is checking you've opened your textbooks. You have to build that routine yourself.

Q. For readers who are on a similar journey, perhaps currently working in a different field but wanting to pursue law, what advice would you give?

First, do your research. Not every law firm is the same, so don't treat them as though they are. Learn what they do, what matters to them and where your experience fits. The more specific you can be, the more memorable you'll become.

Second, work out your unique selling point. Why law? Why now? What experiences have shaped the way you'll approach clients or the areas of law that interest you? Maybe there's a particular case that sparked your interest, a policy that affected your family or a career that gave you skills other candidates won't have. If you can't explain your move clearly, it's much harder for someone else to see it too.

Third, build relationships. Networking doesn't have to mean awkward events or collecting LinkedIn contacts. Some of the best conversations I've had came from simply asking people about their work, showing genuine curiosity and being honest about my own ambitions. People are often incredibly generous with their time when they know what you're trying to achieve. Equally, look for opportunities to help other people too. The best relationships are genuine, not transactional.

Fourth, don't wait for permission. Some of my best opportunities came because I reached out first. There wasn't always a clear route in. But introducing myself started conversations that never would have happened otherwise.

Finally, don't underestimate what you already bring. If, like me, you're changing careers and don't have family connections in the profession, it's easy to feel as though everyone else has a head start. But law needs people with different perspectives and life experiences. Clients don't all come from the same background, and neither should the people representing them. Your job isn't to become someone else. It's to understand the value of your experiences and communicate that confidently.

Once you can answer the question, "Why should they pick me?", you're no longer just sending applications. You're giving people a reason to remember you.

Thank you so much, Stephanie. If Stephanie's journey resonated with you, give her a follow on LinkedIn to keep up with her path to qualification.