I had been considering pursuing a legal career since before applying to university, but I was also really interested in engineering and technology. I decided to study aerospace engineering at university as that was what I was most passionate about at the time, and I knew I would have the option of doing a law conversion after finishing my degree. I really enjoyed the subject matter of my degree, but I realised that working as an engineer wasn’t the right fit for me, so I decided to study the GDL and apply for a training contract. Whilst it is by no means the required path for a career at Bristows, I am really pleased I chose to study a non-law degree as it has helped me pursue a career that blends law and technology, something I didn’t know was possible at the time!

When applying for training contracts, I was particularly interested in firms with strong IP practices, but I was also looking for somewhere that would really value my development as a trainee. Bristows stood out to me as it combined exciting legal work in the technology and life sciences sectors with a curious and friendly culture.

The application process at Bristows was refreshingly transparent. Throughout the written application and interview stages the firm had a genuine interest in understanding me as a candidate and helping me work out if Bristows was the right fit for me, as much as the other way around.

I joined Bristows in 2024 and so far I’ve sat in the firm’s Patent Litigation, Real Estate and Commercial IP teams. The work I have been involved in across my seats has been incredibly varied, including researching and contributing to the drafting of correspondence, witness statements and court submissions, to being involved in the negotiation and drafting of commercial leases and IP and IT contracts. The highlight of my training contract to date has been working on a High Court patents trial during my time in the Patent Litigation team. No matter what I’ve been working on, the support from the firm has been excellent, with partners and associates keen to help me take on responsibilities and have a go at challenging and rewarding work.