David Dalgarno, head of the London office, McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP

Solicitor or barrister?

When I left university I thought I wanted to be a barrister so I followed that route to qualification. It wasn’t right for me and, after a period as an inhouse lawyer, I took the solicitors’ exams.

Issues to consider

Practising law is different from studying it. Before choosing areas of specialisation it’s important to consider not just the subject matter but how that kind of law operates in practice. Think about the type of client you’d like to work with and the kind of work you enjoy. Do you love or loath drafting? Do you prefer to juggle multiple projects or commit to one for a prolonged period? These issues are important and key to career satisfaction.