Baker McKenzie LLP |

With that in mind, I started to explore many different law firms, and three things about Baker McKenzie really stood out: its global reach; its focus on diversity; and above all, the friendliness of its people. Plus, it was one of the few firms to allow second-year non-law students like me to apply for a Vacation Scheme.

I’m now approaching the halfway point of my Training Contract. It’s been an amazing year and I’ve learnt so much. My first seat was in Pensions. I’m now in Energy, Mining and Infrastructure. In many respects, they couldn’t be more different. But wherever I’ve been and whatever I’ve been doing, I’ve always had plenty of responsibility, and a chance to immerse in everything that’s going on.

About a month into my current seat, for example, I got to work on my first big M&A deal. We were acting on behalf of a huge Malaysian oil and gas company that was looking to buy a Swedish chemicals business with subsidiaries in around ten different jurisdictions. With the help of colleagues around the world, we had to co-ordinate due diligence across multiple locations. It was quite a challenge but a great project to be involved in.

Something else I’ve loved being involved with is running the Trainee Business Development Network. Set up by a previous cohort, this network makes it easier for the different practice areas to draft in trainees when they need help with new BD projects. It’s great for us as trainees too, because it means wherever we’re based, we can always learn more about how the Firm builds its relationships with clients and pitches for new work.

I’m now gearing up for year two, which I’m hoping will include an international or client secondment. But first, I’m looking forward to indulging my passion for technology in a seat with the team in IP Tech.

It wasn’t until I moved into political lobbying, however, that I developed an interest in law. I realised that, whereas my work was fundamentally about convincing the Government to see things a certain way and make decisions that would benefit particular parties, the lawyers I was working with had far more influence – they were actually crafting the law and impacting positive change.

That’s when I signed up for a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), writing my dissertation on an area I knew well – the intersection between law and social media, and how it shapes democracy.

When the time came to find a job, I went to as many career fairs as I could. Most law firms looked right past me because I didn’t study at a Russell Group university. The graduate recruitment team at Baker McKenzie were different. They saw my age and experience as a chance to bring a different perspective to the Firm. They were open-minded and keen to recruit in a way that better represents the world we live in today.

I’m now in my second year, about to start my third seat. My first seat was in Disputes, which was a great way to learn about the various clients we work with, and the different types of work we do. My second was in one of our Corporate sub-groups – Energy, Mining, and Infrastructure, which was a steep learning curve at first but turned out to be something I really enjoyed. In part, that’s due to the fact that energy transition has a huge political aspect to it, which felt more within my comfort zone.

Irrespective of your experience, you will be given as much responsibility as you desire here. So far, my highlight at the Firm was spotting that a third-party, engaged in a dispute with our client, had broken the law. The Partner in charge confirmed that I was right, the client was thrilled, and I got to take the lead on our follow-up response.

I’ve had to overcome a lot of challenges to get here, but if you’re prepared to take the initiative, Baker McKenzie is the kind of place you can make things happen for yourself. The wellbeing of trainees is something the Firm takes incredibly seriously, and from day one, the support and encouragement I’ve received has been truly outstanding in every way.

I was first introduced to Baker McKenzie when I signed up for a programme which helps candidates from minority ethnic and lower income backgrounds get into the profession. As well as being a great introduction to law, the programme really demonstrated to me how much the Firm cares about socio-economic mobility and how focused it is on achieving its diversity goals.

Outside work, it’s fair to say, I’m quite an active person. I run most mornings and love a good session on the Pilates reformer. But, much like work, being part of a team is what I enjoy the most. I play netball for the Firm, and right now I’m arranging a five-a-side football tournament as a social for my colleagues in Banking and Finance.

I’m currently in the second seat of my Training Contract. The first was based in Corporate M&A, where I got to work on a huge deal in the healthcare space. When I say it spanned no fewer than 27 international jurisdictions, you’ll understand the scale of the challenge involved!

But for me, it’s not just the size of the projects that make Baker McKenzie such an exciting career prospect. It’s the breadth of opportunity available here too. In my third seat, for example, I’m looking forward to spending time, and developing my knowledge in, IP Tech.

Having spent my early years growing up in Nigeria, I’ve always had something of an international outlook. So something else that drew me to Baker McKenzie was its huge global network. Pretty much from day one, I’ve been working with colleagues around the world. And next year, for my fourth seat, I’m hoping to do an international secondment – ideally in the US or maybe Singapore.