The Student Lawyer Podcast

In this episode, Camilla Uppal speaks with Matthew Berrick, future trainee solicitor at Pinsent Masons. Matthew discusses his journey to securing a training contract as a non-law student and graduate, providing insight into the obstacles he faced and how he overcame them.  Matthew also discusses his book, Legal Insider, which, during its first week of release, ranked 1st on Amazon's bestseller lis...

In this episode, Camilla Uppal interviews Hannah Wright, early ambitions advisor at Shakespeare Martineau. Hannah provides invaluable insight into the training contract recruitment process and provides her top tips for making it past the application stage, acing the assessment centre and what she enjoy enjoys most about her role.   Please share this episode with anyone that might find it helpful,...

In this episode, Camilla Uppal interviews Annie Joseph about life as a family law solicitor, common misconceptions about family law and Annie’s journey to qualifying in a global pandemic. If you are interested in exploring family law as a career, this one is for you! You can read more from Annie at www.matrimonial-matters.com   Please share this episode with anyone that might find it helpful, and...

In this episode, Stephanie Anais is joined Zainab Hassan, trainee solicitor at Pothecary Witham Weld.   Zainab shares how she achieved a distinction on the LPC whilst working and shares the types of work experience that could help secure a training contract. Zainab also reveals her top tips for staying ahead at university, and keeping yourself motivated and productive. Check out Zainab's blog here...

In this episode, Camilla Uppal is joined by Coral Hill, founder and editor of Legal Women, the UK magazine for all women working in law.   Coral shares her motivations for creating the magazine, the fundamental concept behind the magazine and what we can expect from the first edition. One of our favourite lines from the magazine is: “Gender balance is not a “women’s” issue, but a business issue, a...

The interviewer becomes the interviewee as Stephanie Anais interviews Camilla Uppal, General Manager of The Student Lawyer, podcast co-founder and future trainee solicitor at a top 55 law firm.  In this episode, Camilla shares her journey to securing a training contract, and reveals some of the tips and tricks that she has picked up along the way.    Please share this episode with others who might...

In this episode, Stephanie Anais interviews Laura Uberoi, senior real estate finance solicitor and Law Society council member. During the episode, Laura provides invaluable insight into the daily life of a commercial solicitor and shares tips for junior lawyers starting out in the profession. We also talk commercial awareness, time management, how to keep focused and Laura’s campaign ‘calling time...

In this episode, Camilla Uppal interviews Zeenat Islam, a barrister specialising in public inquiries and criminal defence, with a particular interest in cases that engage public international law and human rights. Alongside her work as a barrister, Zeenat is known for taking an active role in helping to improve access to the legal profession and recently won the Highly Commended Award in the UK Ch...

In this episode, Stephanie Anais talks to three members of the Westminster & Holborn Junior Lawyers Division, Suzanna Eames, a family solicitor at Farrer & Co, Anisa Birk an IP and Commercial solicitor also at Farrer & Co, and Rishi Joshi, a trainee solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen about their journey to becoming a lawyer and hearing their thoughts along the way.   Please share thi...

In this episode, Camilla speaks with Daniel Black, Commercial and Insolvency and Civil and Employment law Barrister at 3 Hare Court. Daniel discusses his journey from a state-school in Scotland, to earning a first class degree from the University of Glasgow, studying in the USA and ultimately securing pupillage in London.  Daniel provides actionable advice for students who are aiming for a first-c...

In this episode, Camilla speaks with Destiny Okongwu (MSc LPC graduate) about institutional racism and diversity and inclusion in the legal industry. Having completed a dissertation on institutional racism as well as a masters project on diversity and inclusion in the legal industry, Destiny provides academic insight into the deep-rooted injustices that exist in society today. Please share this ep...

In this episode, Stephanie Anais speaks with Eloise Skinner, an associate at US law firm Cleary Gottlieb, author of The Junior Lawyers Handbook and yoga teacher at Frame. Eloise reveals how she graduated university with a triple-First, shares her training contract application tips and uncovers what a day in the life of corporate lawyer looks like. Eloise also talks about her passion for wellbeing...

In this episode, Camilla Uppal speaks to Ayaz Saboor about his journey to securing a training contract. Ayaz provides advice for how to improve training contract applications, master video interviews and impress on a vac scheme!   Ayaz also discusses his motivations behind setting up Trainee Tips, a mentoring scheme to help aspiring lawyers secure training contracts.   To find out more about The S...

In this episode, Camilla Uppal speaks with Alex Brown, a commercial litigation and arbitration barrister at One Essex Court. Alex studied Politics and Philosophy at Warwick University, completed his pupillage at One Essex Court and has been practising as a barrister for ten years. In this time, he has worked on a wide variety of commercial law cases that range in value from a few hundred thousand...

In this episode, Camilla speaks with Solicitor Advocate and Motivational Speaker, Roy Magara, about how to improve your communication skills. Communicating clearly, confidently and effectively is an important part of being a lawyer and something that future employers are likely to be looking for. Roy provides actionable tips and tricks that you can use to boost confidence, communicate clearly and...

In this episode, Stephanie speaks to Ashkhan Candey, Managing Partner and Head of Commercial Disputes at CANDEY, a commercial litigation law firm. Ashkhan shares the reason he chose a career as a commercial litigator and talks us through what keeps him motivated. Ashkhan also provides career advice, detailing the qualities that CANDEY look for when hiring junior lawyers, reveals a never before-hea...

In this episode, Stephanie speaks with Daniel Thorpe, future pupil barrister at a leading chancery and commercial set. Daniel talks us through his journey to the bar, detailing how to succeed at each stage of the pupilage application process, and how to develop commercial awareness! Daniel is also a law tutor at Bloomsbury Law Tutors, so we took this opportunity find out his top tips on how to per...

In this episode, The Student Lawyer spoke to Aaron Mayers, a future pupil barrister who will be starting his commercial and chancery pupillage in the autumn of 2020. Aaron shares his journey to obtaining pupillage, explaining how he overcame setbacks and developed his skills to enable him to secure pupillage. He also discusses how he developed his advocacy skills and provides advice for how to ove...

In this episode, Stephanie speaks to Tilly Chow, trainee solicitor at Ashurst and co-founder of STRIVE. Tilly provides exceptional advice and great tips for when writing training contract applications and shares the experiences she has had in each of her seats so far. Tilly also explains how Covid-19 has affected her training contract and gives reasons as to why working from home has benefits.  As...

In this episode, we are joined by Ed Holroyd Pearce, co-founder of CRCC Asia and Virtual Internships. Ed discusses the opportunities that are currently available for those seeking virtual internships, the benefits of working remotely, and how the Covid-19 crisis has dramatically changed the internship landscape. Ed also discusses his predictions for the future of virtual experiences and provides h...

In this episode, TSL speaks to Abimbola Johnson about her journey to becoming a barrister. Abi is a crime and regulatory barrister at 25 Bedford Row and was called to the Bar in 2011.   Abi is refreshingly open about some of the setbacks she has faced in her career and how she overcame them, also sharing pupillage application advice and what she enjoys most about being a barrister!   If you are in...

In this episode, we speak to Aqsa Hussain, a pupil barrister at No5 Barristers’ Chambers. Aqsa is currently completing a crime pupillage, also specialising in public law.    Aqsa speaks candidly about how she secured pupillage, and discusses how she navigated the process as a non-law student without any contacts in the legal profession.    Aqsa provides advice for aspiring barristers on how they c...

In this episode, we speak to Samuel Omozusi, future trainee at Charles Russell Speechlys about his journey to securing a Training Contract. Sam speaks candidly about how he improved his Training Contract application technique and shares invaluable advice on how to stand out from the crowd in law firm applications. Sam shares his advice on how to prepare for, and shine during a Vacation Scheme to i...

In this episode, we speak to Rollo Speak, current LPC student about why he decided to pursue a career in law and how he secured a training contract at a magic circle law firm.   Rollo also provides study tips and the tactical strategies that he used to help him earn a first class law degree from Durham University.   Rollo also provides insight into how he developed his commercial awareness for int...

In this episode, we are joined by Peter Watson from Watson's Daily.   Watson’s Daily is a daily weekly newsletter that helps readers improve their commercial and economic awareness by bringing attention to what is important in the business press and explaining it in plain English. It is written by Peter Watson, an experienced stockbroker  and consultant who has recruited for entry level positions...