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OxfordGuideToCareers2017
OxfordGuideToCareers2017
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LAW<br />
LAW<br />
Pia Dutton<br />
Barrister,<br />
3 Verulam Buildings<br />
Keble College, BA<br />
Jurisprudence 2009<br />
BCL, 2011<br />
WHAT: “A jury consists of twelve persons<br />
chosen to decide who has the better<br />
lawyer”, said Robert Frost. The idealists<br />
around us usually recognise that the law,<br />
properly understood, is a fundamental<br />
pillar to a functional democratic society.<br />
Speaking personally, the thought of<br />
persuading judges and juries that my<br />
interpretation of the law and facts should<br />
conquer all other possible alternatives<br />
seemed a thrilling and challenging<br />
prospect; so it was I became a barrister at<br />
3 Verulam Buildings.<br />
WHY: I am fortunate in that 3 Verulam<br />
Buildings provides the opportunity for a<br />
diverse practice. I have enjoyed being<br />
involved in varied work, ranging from<br />
banking and commercial litigation to<br />
petitioning the UN Working Group on<br />
Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Burmese<br />
and Omani political prisoners.<br />
ADVICE: The best piece of advice I can<br />
give any hopeful lawyer is to fail. Deeply<br />
intelligent people, as most Oxonians<br />
are, have a great fear of failure. But<br />
a necessary characteristic of being a<br />
barrister is to “fearlessly” defend the<br />
rights of your clients. Resilience and<br />
determination are respected qualities<br />
at the Bar and necessary to a robust<br />
practice in the law.<br />
TOP TIPS: It is no secret that the Bar<br />
is a place that requires excellence, so<br />
put as much on your CV as possible<br />
that makes you stand out. Compete<br />
in essay competitions and for prizes<br />
– whether from your College, the<br />
University or the Inns of Court; Moot<br />
- often and in as many competitions<br />
as possible; Publish - in student law<br />
reviews, legal blogs or online journals<br />
if you are knocked back by the<br />
obvious publications.<br />
But most importantly, do minipupillages.<br />
Not only will this help<br />
you to demonstrate that you are<br />
making a focused and considered<br />
application, but also, this is a<br />
decision which potentially affects the<br />
next 40 years of your life – so best to<br />
ensure you’ve made the right choice!<br />
Anna McIntyre<br />
Trainee Solicitor, Hogan<br />
Lovells<br />
Hertford College, BA<br />
Jurisprudence, 2014<br />
WHAT: I am 9 months into a 2 year<br />
training contract with Hogan Lovells<br />
International LLP, currently sitting<br />
in Investigations, White Collar and<br />
Fraud, having spent my first seat in<br />
Corporate Pensions. My current role<br />
involves assisting clients (both claimants<br />
and defendants) in navigating court<br />
proceedings; from assessing the viability<br />
of possible claims at the very outset to<br />
pursuing the final enforcement of court<br />
orders.<br />
WHY: The clients I’ve worked with so far<br />
have often been FTSE 100 businesses, or<br />
involved in litigation covered extensively<br />
in the press, which makes the work very<br />
exciting. You’re at the forefront of the<br />
developments in the case – you’re often<br />
the one physically running down to court<br />
with the claim form in hand. The work is<br />
very challenging – often researching a<br />
point of law that has been rarely, if ever,<br />
covered before – but is also as a result<br />
very rewarding and frequently groundbreaking.<br />
I’ve also had the opportunity to get<br />
involved in the amazing pro bono<br />
work we do – I’ve won an employment<br />
support allowance case for a disabled<br />
client, claimed criminal injuries<br />
compensation for a victim of human<br />
trafficking and helped deliver sexual<br />
consent workshops to students at<br />
comprehensive schools.<br />
EARLY CAREER: In order to secure my<br />
training contract, I increased my legal<br />
work experience by working as a<br />
paralegal in the university holidays.<br />
In my second year, I attended the<br />
summer vacation scheme at Hogan<br />
Lovells, with a successful training<br />
contract interview at the end.<br />
TOP TIPS: If you decide a career in<br />
commercial law is right for you, start<br />
by also picking the firm that’s right<br />
for you – the big name firms are not<br />
all the same! For example, I knew<br />
I wanted the opportunity to pursue<br />
both high-profile commercial work<br />
and pro bono work.<br />
Find out which firm is right for you<br />
by going to as many law fairs and<br />
recruitment events as you can, and,<br />
if possible, by going on a vacation<br />
scheme at the firms that stand out.<br />
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