the e-newsletter for BPP Law School alumni

I’ve had the normal ups and downs that any trainee has. If I look back to this time last year, I can see the improvement I’ve made without really realising it. There are times when I get home and think I’m a terrible trainee, and then other days are really good. Fortunately there are fewer and fewer bad days now.

I applied for training contracts much later in life than most, so I had the time to amass life experience which I believe is invaluable. The process is stressful and demoralizing. I applied to twelve firms, and ten of them were straight-off rejections, or I didn’t hear back.

I think I was fortunate. When I first went to BPP, before I embarked upon the LPC, I had a chat with the careers advisor, and I was discouraged from applying as I had a 2:2 and no legal work experience to speak of.

I did Law with French at university. One year I spent in Nice studying French and European law with the ERASMUS scheme. I also stayed on over the summer to do a course on American Criminal Punishment.

After three years teaching English in Turin, it was definitely time to come back. Living abroad was something that I had always wanted to do, but after Italy I could fully focus on pursuing my career with an extra language and tons of life experience under my belt.

I was invited to an assessment centre at Irwin Mitchell, and then to an interview. The day I got my offer through still counts as one of the best days of my life. I don’t think my actual performance at the interview was outstanding, but my personality came across which I’m sure was a help.

It think it was a combination of the fact that I chose a firm where academic results aren't the be all and end all, and other experiences are taken into consideration. I was with the CAB for almost a year, training to be an advisor there, and I also did a masters in Medical Law.

I went to the speed networking event last year. As a BPP alumna, I thought it was an opportunity to give something back. Being on the other side of things was interesting - I could see how some students were really struggling to get training contracts.

Getting a training contract nowadays seems even more competitive, with more people entering onto the LPC, but firms cutting back on their recruitment. It’s a massive commitment financially, so students really want to see something at the end of it.

I’d like to specialize in serious injury. It wasn’t my first choice when I started but I’ve really enjoyed being involved in something which really makes a difference to clients. It has really opened my eyes to the nature of brain injury - in some ways it’s quite a subtle disability, but it can have devastating consequences for clients and their families.

The work we do goes towards ensuring that clients have the means to afford appropriate level of care, therapies and suitable accommodation for the rest of their lives. It goes beyond rewarding when we can secure a result for our clients that allows them to rebuild their lives after life-changing events.


Ashwini was speaking with Will Finch.