LLB2 student Megan Walden takes us through a recent event she attended, featuring seven legal professionals to learn from…

On March 27, 2025, the students of The City Law School gathered for an insightful evening at the ‘Lawyer’s Lounge: Meet Solicitors in Practice’ event. With every pathway represented, the lure of this diverse panel was clear from the attendees; with different years and courses attending in equal measure.

This dynamic networking opportunity provided students with direct access to professionals from a range of legal backgrounds, offering an invaluable glimpse into life in the legal profession. To use a catering analogy, there was a real buffet of legal experience the students could find value in.

The Format: Speed Networking with a Purpose

The evening was structured into two key parts:

• Introduction to Guests – Each speaker shared insights into their career paths, their firms, and their professional passions.
• Networking Café – Students rotated through small-group discussions, engaging with each legal professional for ten-minute sessions.

This fast-paced format ensured that attendees maximized their learning, gained tailored advice, and made meaningful professional connections. You may wonder whether the speed also meant that some interesting informative conversations were cut short. Whilst this was sometimes the case, it gave us the opportunity to continue that conversation with connections outside of the event. Growing our network further!

Who Was There?

The event featured a stellar lineup of legal professionals across multiple disciplines, including:

• Yael Hagheray – Trainee Solicitor, Laura Devine Immigration
• Oliver Carter – Associate, Irwin Mitchell (Public Law & Human Rights)
• Ellen Forsyth – Trainee Solicitor, Irwin Mitchell (Medical Negligence)
• Joanna Earl – Trainee Solicitor, Moore Barlow (Private Wealth)
• Patti Kachidza – Co-Chair, InterLaw Diversity Forum
• John Molleskog – Solicitor, GT Stewart (Crime & Extradition)
• Tara Asghari-Coliveri – Paralegal, GT Stewart (Criminal & Family Law)

Key Takeaways from the Sessions

Each professional brought a wealth of insight, but a few recurring themes stood out:

Passion Fuels a Career

Yael Hagheray emphasised the importance of aligning your legal career with what genuinely excites you. We discussed how academic interest in a legal subject does not always translate into passion for the practice of that area – a crucial distinction when choosing a specialism. Our conversation was bright and fun, laughing about our favourite professors and how they shaped our passion for a subject.

The Changing Landscape of Law

Oliver Carter provided an in-depth look into Administrative Law, highlighting the evolving relationship between advocates and solicitors. My friend asked whether Ollie foresaw any changes to the roles in the future – a potential merger maybe? His answer showed a huge breadth of legal knowledge, taking examples from other jurisdictions and the history that lead a jurisdiction to follow a system like ours or a system like the USA. He touched on Irwin Mitchell’s own team of in-house solicitor-advocates and barristers and what their role looks like in a firm instead of chambers.

Something to consider for those still unsure whether the solicitor or barrister pathway is the way for them!

Communication is Key

Having previously met Ellen Forsyth at an Irwin Mitchell event I knew that she would have just completed her first seat in family law. A fellow student in my group enquired about what a training contract entailed – in that moment I was reminded how much knowledge these networking sessions have allowed me to gain. When I was first starting as a law student, words like training contract, vacation scheme, associate, and partner did not carry any weight. It was not until I attended many of these events and completed my own research following events that this knowledge began to grow.

Ellen spoke about her own similar experience in her introduction. Further speaking on her work with the EmpowHer Programme run by our very own City, St Georges Women in Law Society, highlighting the importance of mentorship in law.

Stand Out by Leveraging Your Strengths

Joanna Earl stressed the importance of utilising what makes you unique, as well as finding a firm that curates that strength. For example, if you have strong social media skills, leverage that to help the firm you are applying to with outreach and marketing. If you know you collaborate better with people and like a non-intimidating partner hierarchy, look for a firm that prides itself on an open-door policy and flat structure. If you do not know what makes you different or what firm structure you prefer that is okay! I have found saying yes to absolutely everything and learning what things were not for you, is just as valuable as finding something you absolutely love.

The Power of Networking

Tara Asghari-Coliveri reinforced the necessity of LinkedIn networking when pursuing a paralegal or training contract role. A strong online presence can make a significant difference when securing opportunities. She also spoke about the discrimination she has faced entering the legal field, but instead of letting it get her down, she used it to fuel her and deliver what some people thought was not possible. I was truly inspired by her story, and my conversations with other students after the event showed others were too.

Final Thoughts: There is no “One-Size-Fits-All” pathway into Law

One of the strongest messages from the evening was that there is no single pathway into law—everyone’s journey is different. There was no one who embodied this idea better than Patti Kachidza. Patti’s remarkable journey and career in law proves that there is no single path to achieving our goals, inspiring me to embrace the unique twists and turns of my own journey.

For those who missed this event, the key lesson is clear: your journey will not look like anyone else’s and that is a good thing!

Megan Walden is a second-year law student at City, St George’s University with a strong passion for personal client-focused practice areas and advocating for state school students. She is the president of The 93% Club, City, St George’s, the fundraising officer for the Women in Law society, and a dedicated member of the Law Ball committee.