University: University of Oxford
Degree: Molecular and cellular biochemistry
Year of qualification: 2023
Position: Data protection and privacy associate
Department: Data/cyber/libel
Pronouns: She/her

What attracted you to a career in law?

At university I carried out a research project on a signalling protein that has potential as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. At this point, I realised that the lab life wasn’t for me; however, I really enjoyed the problem-solving nature of the work. At the same time, I worked with three other students to set up a mobile banking app. None of us had much knowledge of the law to speak of but I found the legal challenges we faced to be the most interesting. I also spent some time writing reviews of cosmetics and skincare for magazines. As part of this, I evaluated products based on the underlying science of the ingredients. Upon graduation I worked as a data and emerging technology policy adviser – I really enjoyed the process of unpicking technical concepts and translating them into pragmatic policy advice, but realised I wanted to touch more on the commercial side of things. Collectively, these experiences have led me to seek out a career in advising non-legal minds on interesting and often novel legal issues that span the technology and life sciences sectors in particular.

How much work experience had you had? Why is it so important?

Work experience is helpful for working out what being a solicitor actually entails, especially if you didn’t study law at university. It also helps to demonstrate to law firms that you’re making an informed decision when applying for training contracts. I didn’t have much legal work experience, so I attended various panel events and workshops to gain a sense of what the job required.

What do you think made your application successful?

I’d put a lot of thought into why I wanted to train at Bristows specifically, including the type of work and clients, and the culture. The more you can do to show a law firm that you’ve done your homework, the better – they want to know that you think the firm is a good fit for you, as well as vice versa.

Which departments did you train in during your training contract?

My training contract consisted of seats in the following departments: life sciences regulatory; commercial, technology and copyright disputes; patent litigation; real estate; and commercial IP, IT and data/cyber/libel (which I qualified into). I also spent three months on a client secondment to a major US tech company.

Please outline your area of expertise. What might you do in a typical day?

I work in data protection and privacy across various industries, particularly the technology and life sciences sectors. In a typical day I might advise on the data protection and privacy implications of a new product or service for a client, write a memo outlining the impacts of a new piece of legislation or guidance, or develop submissions for a regulator in the United Kingdom or abroad. 

What do you most/least enjoy about your career and why?

The legal and regulatory frameworks can’t match the pace of technological development, which gives rise to a lot of grey areas. I really enjoy helping our clients to navigate this uncertainty, particularly in the context of advising on product development. It provides an opportunity to add real value as a lawyer by giving strategic, pragmatic and creative advice. It also means I feel like my job is continually evolving, which keeps things interesting – I like the idea that I’ll be grappling with legal issues over the next few years that I don’t even know exist yet. The flip side is that there’s a huge amount of material such as guidance and case law to get to grips with with as the legal regime tries to catch up, and being across it takes sustained effort.    

What makes your firm stand out from the rest?

We do a lot of very interesting work for cool clients but Bristows is also a genuinely lovely place to work. Being a lawyer isn’t without its challenges but the people you work with can make all the difference. I feel valued and supported by my team and am lucky enough to have found some fantastic friendships with colleagues.

What skills/strengths do you need to be a successful solicitor?

In my view, a successful solicitor can combine technical knowledge and commercial acumen to provide practical and strategic legal advice. Being able to communicate clearly and concisely, paying strong attention to detail, and being proactive in your own development are all key.

What’s the work/life balance like at your firm? How often do you have late nights/work at weekends?

The work/life balance is pretty good. The partners I work for are very approachable and we check in frequently about capacity and priorities. The focus is on delivering high-quality work, rather than putting in face time. I feel more productive and efficient at work because I have time to recharge at the weekend.

Does your department largely work independently, in support of another dept or is it routinely supported by other depts?

The data protection team at Bristows sits alongside the commercial IP and IT teams, so while we do a lot of work independently, we also work with those teams as needed, such as to advise on data protection matters for clinical trials or technology agreements. We also support our life sciences regulatory and corporate teams with ad-hoc queries and due diligence for deals.  

How often as a trainee were you communicating directly with clients (calls, attending meetings)?

I’d routinely attend calls and meetings with the client as a trainee. Sometimes I’d be asked to take a note, and other times I’d be invited to just listen in if a team member thought it’d be interesting or beneficial for me to observe. In most of my seats I’d be asked to draft and then send emails to the client on behalf of the team as well. This helped me to feel like I was a proper part of the team and build up my confidence with client communication.

What’s your dream holiday destination?

How to pick just one?! I went to Indonesia recently and am already wanting to plan my next trip. Sri Lanka, Fiji, Jordan, Canada and Japan are all on the list.