Weekly Newsletter #4

Here’s what to expect this week…

Let’s get into it 👇

📍 Work experience and insight days

💼 Trainee Roles

📍 Paralegal/Entry Level Roles

My response:

First of all, congratulations on your training contract offer. I know how challenging it is, especially in today’s market, and it’s important to celebrate this achievement!

Second, this is a really common feeling and it’s not the first time I’ve seen this question asked. Students, graduates and career changers often spend so much time laser focused on getting an offer that, once it arrives, the reality of what’s next can suddenly feel overwhelming. It’s very easy to begin second-guessing the decisions you made during the application process.

There isn’t one universally “right” answer here, but as someone now ten years into their legal career, here are a few things I’d encourage you to think about…

Are you genuinely interested in the firm’s specialism?

It can be hard to fully picture what practising in any area of law actually feels like day-to-day until you're in it. If you haven't done work experience with the firm already, have you spoken to trainees or associates there about what the work really involves? If the answer is yes, and you find yourself genuinely curious and engaged, that’s a good sign.

What drew you to the firm in the first place?

Enjoying the area of law is important, but it's not the only thing. Think about the other factors that made you apply:

These factors can have a huge impact on your day-to-day happiness and development, particularly at the beginning of your career.

What’s really making you nervous?

Sometimes the anxiety isn’t actually about the firm itself.

When you’re surrounded by peers securing offers at different firms, posting updates online, or pursuing completely different career paths, it’s very easy to start comparing yourself and wondering whether you’re making the “best” choice.

But no training contract is perfect.

Every opportunity comes with trade-offs, whether that’s high-profile work versus work-life balance, specialist expertise versus broader exposure, or big-city excitement versus lower living costs. The important thing is choosing the path that feels right for you, somewhere you believe you can learn, grow and build confidence at the start of your legal career.

As I've touched on in previous editions of this newsletter, legal career paths are becoming much more "squiggly" than they used to be. It's increasingly common for lawyers to move between firms, sectors, and specialisms and even into non-legal roles entirely. Fewer people follow one perfectly linear path from trainee to partner in the same department now. If you qualify and decide the niche isn't for you, you will have other options.

Trust your gut and let us know what you decide!

Emma has built a legal career on challenging assumptions. From qualifying as an in-house solicitor to becoming a leading voice on diversity in the legal profession and in-house careers through her In-House Potter platform on Instagram, she has shown that there is no single route to success.

In this edition, Emma shares more about the barriers she faced entering the profession and what she’s got planned next…

Because I had no framework, I took everything I was told at face value, and for a while I genuinely believed law wasn’t for me.

Taking a gap year changed everything. It’s the best decision I made during my academic chapter. It gave me space to discover in-house law, and when I did, everything slotted into place. I felt at home in a way I never had before.

Q: A lot of people from working-class backgrounds talk about being made to feel like an imposter in professional spaces. Did you experience that, and what would you say to someone feeling that way right now?

Absolutely, and I have the receipts! I was told to change my accent. I was questioned about why I went to Staffordshire University instead of somewhere more prestigious. It was relentless at times.

But it all turned out to be nonsense. The more I leaned into who I actually was, the more successful I became. So to anyone feeling that way right now: the way you stand out from the competition is by showcasing your differences, not by erasing them. Champion them because they are your strengths.

Q: You founded Inhoco specifically to make in-house careers more accessible. What’s the one thing about in-house that you wish someone had told you earlier?

That it was even an option. Most people from non-traditional backgrounds are told that in-house is something you do after private practice, if it gets mentioned at all. And then, it’s somewhere you go to take a ‘step back’. That framing alone puts it out of reach for so many people, and it simply isn’t accurate at all.

In-house teams tend to be smaller and less hierarchical than people expect. You’re judged on your commercial instincts, your ability to communicate clearly with non-lawyers and whether you’re easy to work with. The skills that come naturally to people who’ve had to read a room, be pragmatic and operate without a safety net are genuinely valued in-house. 

The information just isn’t getting to the right people. That’s exactly why I built Inhoco - a careers hub dedicated to making in-house accessible to everyone, wherever they’re starting from.

You can follow Emma on LinkedIn here. We're also excited to share that Inhoco launches tomorrow! If you’re interested in hearing more about in-house legal careers, head to the Inhoco website to find out more.

When aspiring lawyers think about legal careers, the same practice areas often dominate the conversation: corporate and commercial law, criminal law, commercial litigation and maybe family or human rights. But one area that may be overlooked is the Court of Protection.

The Court of Protection deals with decisions for people who may lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions themselves, covering everything from serious medical treatment to welfare and financial matters. It sits at the intersection of law, ethics, healthcare and human rights, making it one of the most emotionally complex and socially impactful areas of legal practice.

Maria also shared several practical tips that are useful well beyond this area of law:

For aspiring lawyers, the Court of Protection is a reminder that some of the most meaningful legal work happens in areas that receive far less attention online or at careers fairs. If you’re interested in advocacy, healthcare law, mental capacity, safeguarding, or simply understanding how law impacts vulnerable people in practice, it’s an area well worth exploring.

You can read Maria’s full article here.

That’s all for now. See you next week!

^{The careers advice shared in this newsletter is intended as general guidance and should not be treated as formal legal or recruitment advice. I do my best to keep all opportunities and deadlines accurate and up-to-date at the time of writing, but always double-check the employer’s website before applying.}