Let's Talk Law

In the final episode of Let's Talk Law, we are joined by current King's Law student, Fran Clark, and Adam Kayani (Barrister and Director of Leducate) to celebrate the power of volunteering and the far-reaching benefits it brings to those giving up their time and, most importantly, beneficiaries.

We learn about Leducate, an educational charity that aims to promote an understanding of everyday legal rights among secondary school-aged students in England and Wales. The charity believes that empowering young people with knowledge of their legal rights and responsibilities in day-to-day situations can change their future and enable them to become thriving members of society. Adam is Leducate's Director and is a barrister with Harcourt Chambers practicing in all areas of family law including domestic violence, social services involvement with children, contact arrangements for separated parents and the distribution of assets after divorce. As well as discussing the charity, Adam shares his journey into the legal profession and discusses his practice.

And last, but by no means least, as editor of Leducate's online publication Leducate Explains, Fran discusses why she is committed to volunteering, the skills and knowledge she is learning as a consequence, and why fellow students should consider getting involved with charities. Fran also tells us what she has learned from being a loyal listener of the Let's Talk Law podcast!

In episode 12, we speak with Roshiny Panchalingam who studied Law at King's and graduated in 2012. After a short stint within a government organisation and an international publishing company, Roshiny went on to study the LPC at the University of Law. She completed a six-seat training contract at Squire Patton Boggs, undertaking an international secondment in Brussels and a client secondment at top British beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury, qualifying as a commercial solicitor in 2018. After some more time spent in private practice, Roshiny made the move in-house to online retailer Net-A-Porter and most recently has joined the globally-renowned luxury retailer Selfridges where she practices as a general commercial legal counsel.

We hear about Roshiny's student experience, how she made her work experience relevant to her goal to pursue a legal career, the realities of dealing with disappointments in assessment processes, and developing a career in-house within the Retail sector.

In episode 11, we speak with Jade Williams-Adedeji who graduated from King's in 2001 and is now a partner and head of the Real Estate team at Sidley Austin LLP. Jade's practice covers all aspects of commercial real estate investment, mainly for private equity investors and lenders. Last year, Jade was awarded the “Real Estate Lawyer of the Year” award at the Women in Business Law EMEA Awards. In addition, Jade is recognised as a “Next Generation Partner” for Commercial Property: Investment in The Legal 500 UK 2023.

In a wide ranging interview, we discuss Jade's practice, what partners expect from successful interview candidates, her dedication to pro bono work, and her role as a Peer Supporter at LawCare, the mental wellbeing charity for the legal community.

In episode 10, we speak with Neel Rokad, an assistant advocate in the Barristers team at Browne Jacobson.  Neel was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in March 2022.  In addition to his legal experience, Neel draws on a broad professional background, having worked in management consultancy and the Department for Exiting the European Union before obtaining an MSc in Mental Health, Ethics & Law at King’s College London. Neel studied for his LLB at the University of Exeter.

We talk about Neel's ambitions to become a barrister, the benefits he has derived from his prior work experience, and how important it is to pursue your passions and the path which energises you.

In episode 9, we speak with Karolina Wasikowska who studied the LLB at King’s College London, graduating in 2017.  After her Law degree, Karolina pursued an LLM in Entertainment Law at the University of Westminster.  In autumn 2020, after being made redundant from her previous job, Karolina was offered an internship at an immigration law firm. This position brought her into the world of immigration and has been a direct result of her current job as a Senior Associate at Vialto Partners, a global mobility services firm. 

We hear about Karolina's student experience, including her involvement with the KCL Sherlock Society!  We also discuss the realities of job hunting and how this often leads to feelings of anxiety.  Finally, we talk about having a different perspective and the importance of accepting that everyone has their own path in their professional life.

In episode 8, we speak with Nicola Solomou who graduated from King’s with a LLB in 2014, which included an Erasmus year in Sweden.  Nicola completed her Training Contract at Trowers & Hamlins LLP, where she qualified as a solicitor in the Tax and Private Wealth department.  After two years as a solicitor, Nicola pursued an MSc in Comparative Criminal  Justice at Leiden University.  In 2021, she founded Silverpen Careers, an education and career consultancy with global outreach.  In addition to running Silverpen, Nicola is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Law.

In a wide ranging discussion, we talk about Nicola's legal career, her international trainee secondments in Bahrain and Dubai, and becoming a trusted legal advisor.  We also hear about Nicola's motivation for establishing Silverpen, and how she believes that identifying and owning your skill set can lead to more opportunities.  

In episode 7, we speak with Rachel Tong, a future trainee at Clifford Chance.  Rachel grew up in Hong Kong and moved to London in 2019. She has a degree in Politics and graduated from King’s in 2022. During her time at King’s, Rachel was the co-president of the Lawyers Without Borders Student Division and the president of the Streetlaw Society. She also co-founded the Environmental Law and Regulation Society at King’s in her final year.  

Rachel is currently studying for the PgDL at the University of Law and will start her training contract in August 2024.  She has recently founded the Buddy Up Initiative to help students attain advice from lawyers.   We discuss Rachel's experience of her time at King's, her proactive approach to hunting out relevant work experience for her chosen profession, and the importance of making things happen for yourself.

In episode 6, we talk to Eleanor Tack who graduated from King's with a degree in International Relations.  In 2022, Eleanor graduated from BPP University with a Distinction in the Post Graduate Diploma in Law, funded by a Queen Mother Scholarship from Middle Temple. Eleanor currently sits as a Judicial Assistant to Justice Theron at the Constitutional Court of South Africa and intends to return to the UK to pursue a career at the Bar, building a practice focusing on public law.  

During her time at King's, Eleanor launched a series of events focusing on diversity and inclusion at the Bar in her role as Vice President of the KCL Bar & Mooting Society. It is through this work that Eleanor met Mass Ndow-Njie and joined a group of young barristers in launching Bridging the Bar in August 2020, charity which works to diversify the legal profession. As Head of Marshalling on the Executive Committee, Eleanor secured and developed the first Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court internship programmes. In 2022 Eleanor spearheaded the first BTB Academy in her interim role of Programmes Coordinator.   

We discuss Eleanor's role at Bridging the Bar as well as her career aspirations to become a barrister.  We also discuss having courage over confidence, and the importance of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

In episode 5, we speak with Liz Barrett who studied Law at King’s College London as a mature student, graduating in 2019.  Prior to this she had a protracted period of illness which curtailed her life, including her education and career – but since her recovery in 2014 she gained the necessary qualifications to attend university and undertook various work experiences including vacation schemes and several mini-pupillages. 

Liz qualified as a solicitor in 2022 at Mishcon de Reya LLP into their Family team, having trained at the firm. Liz regularly mentors those both inside and outside her firm and is an active part of her firm's Social Mobility Committee. She is a keen advocate for those with untapped potential from under-represented backgrounds reaching their version of success – and founded a blog with this aim in mind – Silks And The City; providing advice from everything from applications to wellbeing. 

We talk about Liz's mission to give the "voiceless a voice", what being a Family law expert is all about, and the importance of testing and growing your own skills.

In episode 4, we speak with Zoe Sinclair, the Founder of Employees Matter which is the leading provider of seminars, workshops and webinars promoting and inspiring a healthy and happy alliance between living and working. Born of a passion to support employees in the context of work/life balance, Employees Matter was launched to help the corporate world help their employees to get that balance right. Prior to that Zoe studied History at King's College London and then worked at the BBC in the factual entertainment department making television programmes for 10 years. In 2017 Zoe set up This Can Happen, aiming to empower workplace mental health specifically.

In a wide ranging interview, we discuss life at King's, the realities of working within the media, and Zoe's passion for wellbeing and mental health.  We also talk about the efforts being made by employers, including the legal sector, to support their employees in order that they can thrive.

In episode 3, we speak with Meera Patel who graduated from the King’s LLB and LLM in 2009 and 2010 respectively.  She was the first person in her family to go to university and qualified as a solicitor, aged 24, at Latham & Watkins. Following qualification, Meera took a unique, entrepreneurial approach to her legal career. This includes, in 2015, being one of the first client-facing corporate lawyers at EY and in 2017, co-founding EY’s Brexit strategy unit. In 2018 she moved to Deloitte and led legal Brexit insights.  

Meera is currently a Director at Deloitte advising on corporate restructuring and re-organisational strategy. Her book, Get Into Law, sets out her personal blueprint to empower students who are aspiring solicitors (follow @getintolawbook on Instagram).

Meera is a business strategy advisor, lawyer, author and speaker.  In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss the winning formula for career success, which includes knowing yourself and researching the market.

In episode 2, we speak with Roberta Tondini who graduated from King’s in 2013, where she completed an LLM in International Tax.  She also completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Master’s Degree in Business Law from University LIUC of Castellanza - Italy (2006 and 2008), and qualified as an attorney in both Italy and Spain (2012 - 2015).

Roberta began her traineeship at one of the top 5 law firms in Italy (Advant-NCTM in Milan), worked at a number of boutique and international law firms in Italy, the UK (Orrick), and Switzerland (MCE Avocats), for a global wealth manager (UBS AG), as well as for a consulting company (Noveras), where she led the Tax and Legal team. 

Her uncommon career pathway continued, with her decision to turn to her biggest passion and launch her own fashion brand: Studio Tondini, which ethically puts an end to all the career women frustrations on handbags.  

We discuss being challenged in a positive way, the value of networking, and how being open-minded and reflective are essential qualities as a lawyer and an entrepreneur.

In the first episode of Series 5, we talk to Dipti Kumar, a sustainability advocate who is passionate about driving footprint-neutral policies and businesses within macro and micro ecosystems.  Dipti read Law at King's College London (LLB and LLM) and was the top lawyer in International Financial Law at King's. 

She recently took on a new role as the Head of Sustainability at Maxis, the leading converged solutions provider in Malaysia. Over the last 5 years, she served as the CEO of MCII, an NGO that promotes collective synergies across multiple stakeholders as a sustainable method of impactful change within the education landscape. MCII works on improving literacy in Malaysia and influencing policy change through a data driven and community-led approach. 

As an advisor to the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family through the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Trust, she advised on sustainability and social impact investment across Commonwealth countries and served on a panel to develop the Queen's Young Leaders programme. She was also a United Nations Youth representative and led the UN Changemakers in Geneva - an inclusive global policy movement.   

We discuss the importance of identifying what motivates you, staying open to and looking for opportunities, and following an 'unconventional' path.

In the final episode of Series 4, we speak with Sarah Tantin who studied on the LLM in Intellectual Property and Information Law at King’s College London, graduating in 2022.  Prior to enrolling on the course, Sarah qualified as a lawyer in France gaining experience both in-house and in law firms, in litigation and commercial law. 

When at King's she specialised in data protection, and in February 2021 she joined Information Governance Services where she is now a consultant advising private and public sector organisations, including within the NHS, on a broad range of data protection and information governance matters. 

We discuss planning for a change in career direction, getting used to being outside of your comfort zone, academic highlights, and gaining new professional and personal perspectives through the King's Legal Clinic and Civic Challenge, and the Association of King's College programme.

In episode 9, we speak with Dr Caroline Silva who is a Lecturer in the discipline of Human Rights at the Institute for the Study for Human Rights and the Department of Political Science at Columbia University. Caroline is interested in Institutions, Human Rights, and Social Justice from the perspectives of International Law & International Relations, Sociology, and related disciplines.  She recently published an article about the Structural Bias of Domestic Courts in Latin America.

Caroline holds a PhD in Political Science from Northwestern University and a PhD in Law from the University of Copenhagen. She also holds an LL.M from King’s College London. 

We discuss following your academic passions, the realities of PhD studies, and pursuing a career in academia.  

In episode 8, we speak with Magdalena Lewoniec  who graduated with a degree in Law and European Legal Studies from King’s in 2021 and completed a year abroad in Barcelona as part of her degree. She is due to study the SQE in September 2023, before starting as a Trainee Solicitor at international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys in August 2024. During her time at King's, Magdalena was an events officer for the Bar and Mooting Society, a member of the King's Women in Law Society and a volunteer at the King's Legal Clinic. She spent the past year working as an intern at the Sutton Trust, a charity which champions social mobility.   

We discuss the benefits of using the services provided by King's Careers & Employability and attending open days and information evenings at law firms.  We also learn how important Instagram can be in your career search!

In this special episode, we are joined by Nick West, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer with overall responsibility for technological transformation within Mishcon de Reya. Nick leads the Technology and Strategy groups as well the Firm's research and development arm, MDR R&D. 

He is also one of the foremost experts in LegalTech and the application of AI to the legal market, having spent the majority of his career working at the forefront of innovation in the legal industry. Formerly Managing Director of Axiom in the UK and Director of LexisNexis's UK Legal Business, Nick's expertise lies in the field of technology, knowledge and new business models in the legal sector. Nick began his career as a competition lawyer at Linklaters and then as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co.

We discuss the recent history of law firms in the UK, embracing change and technology, and challenging the status quo.

In this special episode, we are joined by Helen Cooke, CEO and Founder of MyPlus. Helen's vision is to ensure that having a disability or long-term health condition doesn’t prevent anyone from having the career that they want to have.  She provides expert advice and guidance to students enabling them to navigate the challenges that having a disability can bring during the recruitment process and in the workplace.

Helen’s unique approach comes from her expertise in HR and graduate recruitment, having previously worked for Marks & Spencer and Mars, combined with her first-hand experience of living with a disability; Helen is a wheelchair user as a result of a childhood spinal injury.   

We discuss the importance of getting involved in university, owning your narrative, and debate whether individuals should disclose their disability or health condition to potential employers.

In this episode we speak with Michael Pettingale who graduated from King’s with a degree in History in 2015. Michael completed his legal training whilst working in local government and is now working for the Government Legal Department.  Michael is currently in his fourth and final seat of his training contract, working at the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities. 

We explore the differences between training and working as a lawyer for the government vs private practice.  We also discuss developing practical skills from volunteering at Citizens Advice, transferable academic skills, and the experience of studying in London.

To mark World Mental Health Day 2022, we speak with Nick Bloy who studied Chemistry at King's and founded Wellbeing Republic, a wellbeing coaching consultancy that works with many of the UK’s top law firms, as well as other major brands across different industry sectors. Nick combines science with his own experience of working in industry, both as a lawyer and in HR for law firms, and his experience with burnout in 2014.  He is passionate about shifting the conversation from ill-being to well-being and inspiring more people to flourish at work and in life.  Nick works both as a coach and a facilitator helping individuals and teams to optimise their wellbeing and performance by sharing the latest science of human flourishing.

In a wide-ranging interview, we discuss the science of learning, how data and science informs health and wellbeing strategies, current issues within the legal sector and how it's never too early to develop a growth mindset.

In Episode 3, we are joined by Perlina Patel who graduated with a degree in Law from King’s in 2021. Since graduating, Perlina has been a research assistant to Professor Philippa Webb and Dr Rosana Garciandia at King's, and has completed a  research internship at the University of Oxford. She will begin her master’s degree in Law at the University of Cambridge in October 2022.  We discuss how to approach a gap year, Perlina's career aspirations at the Bar, and how networking (and asking 'Can I help?') can pay off when securing meaningful work experience.

In this episode, we speak with Pawel Guzik who is a future pupil barrister at XXIV Old Buildings, a leading commercial / chancery set of chambers in London. After graduating from King's in 2019, Pawel obtained a Distinction in the MSc Law and Finance degree at the University of Oxford, completed the LLM Bar Vocational Studies degree at City, and was called to the Bar in 2021.  Pawel has spent the past two years working as a law lecturer at King's, UCL, LSE, and Queen Mary. In recognition of his teaching excellence, he won the 2021 Excellent Feedback Award in the university-wide King’s Education Awards organised by King’s.     

We discuss what studying for Bar course is really like, preparing for pupillage interviews, and how teaching has been pivotal in helping Pawel to develop key skills and qualities which will be essential for a career as a barrister.

In Episode 1 of Series 4, we are joined by Jerin John who studied a LLM in Competition Law at King’s in 2014 following completion of his LLB at the University of Hull. Jerin has built a career in regulation at Ofcom, the UK communications regulator. Since 2017, Jerin worked in a number of regulated sectors, initially in broadcasting compliance and then advising on Freedom of Information and Data Protection compliance. Jerin recently completed an internal secondment in the Legal & Enforcement Team and is now an Associate working on competition and regulatory casework, and in online safety regulation such as Video-Sharing Platforms. 

We discuss taking an alternative path as a law graduate, the importance of getting a foot in the door, and what it's like to work for a regulator.

In the final episode of Series 3, we speak with Liam Hendry who studied on the MSc Construction Law and Dispute Resolution programme at King’s College London, graduating in 2020.  Prior to enrolling on the course, Liam had spent 15 years working in commercial roles in the construction industry and had obtained a BSc in Quantity Surveying. Studying at King’s inspired Liam to pursue a career in law, and in June 2020 he joined Prettys Solicitors LLP as a legal assistant, working across the construction and commercial dispute resolution teams. Liam is currently working towards qualifying as a solicitor via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) route, and has just taken the SQE2 exam.  

We discuss the importance of keeping an open mind during a career transition, how to gain access to the "gate keepers", using LinkedIn as a tool to shape your next role, and what studying for the new SQE qualification is really like.

In Episode 9, we speak with Dr Shelly-Ann Gajadhar, an Educator, Attorney and CEO of a coaching and consultancy company Alphastute Limited. After spending three years as a State Prosecutor in Trinidad and Tobago, Shelly-Ann chose to diversify her career from law to business. She holds a PhD in Management Research from King's College London, a Masters with Distinction in International Business and Emerging Markets, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Advice and Information from Oxford and Cambridge RSA.

Her deep academic experience of business and management principles coupled with her ability to intuitively tap into her clients and their blockages has dubbed her as a performance coach with the “Midas touch”.  Shelly-Ann has successfully curated a unique path of blending law, academia and coaching which has seen her build an online community of over 100k+. 

Her life motto, "GO BRAVELY!" continues to inspire many others to lead from their heart center.  We discuss the realities of criminal law, the importance of daring to dream, female role models, and embracing every opportunity which comes along.

In this Special Episode of Let's Talk Law, we speak with Luke Rigg who is a magistrate and national chair of the Magistrates’ Association’s Young Magistrates Network. Luke graduated from the University of Warwick in 2015, when he was appointed as a magistrate in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. In late 2015, Luke relocated to London for work and has since sat at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in North London. In 2020, Luke was elected as Deputy Bench Chair for North London, with responsibility for new magistrates and engagement with the Probation Service. Outside court, Luke works as a Senior Policy Adviser to the London Assembly, the elected body that scrutinises the Mayor of London.   

In this wide-ranging episode, we discuss the realities of a career in policy; what volunteering as a magistrate involves and how listeners can find out more; and, the importance of getting more diversity into the judicial system.

In Episode 7, we speak with Mariasole Forlani who is a PhD Candidate and a Visiting Lecturer in EU Law at King's College London. She holds a Master in Law from Università Bocconi (Italy), an Advanced Master in Public International Law from Leiden University (Netherlands) and she is LLB Candidate in Spanish Law (Universidad de Nebrija, Spain). Currently, Mariasole is a researcher for the Centre of European Law and Tutor in International Law for different projects. Previously, she was Senior Editor for King’s Law Review and she published several articles on International Relations and International Law for a number of online newspapers, blogs and websites.

We discuss living, studying and working internationally, and how to identify those opportunities. Mariasole also discusses her passions for International Law, EU Law and International Relations, reflects on how she navigated her PhD studies during a global pandemic, and shares what she has gained from teaching the next generation of lawyers.

In this episode, we speak with Emily Cuzner who graduated from King's in 2011 before studying for the LPC at the University of Law. Emily then completed her training contract at Linklaters LLP, where she qualified as a Solicitor into the Corporate Private Equity team and later became a Managing Associate.  In 2019 she was a ranked as a “rising star” in the Legal 500.  Emily moved to Schroders, a FTSE 100 asset manager, in 2020 to pursue a career as an in-house lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions.

We discuss what doing a Training Contract is really like, learn more about Private Equity, share top tips and advice for how to approach interviews, and hear about Emily's journey from private practice to an in-house role at Schroders.

In one of our Special Episodes, we are joined by Meera Ferguson.  Meera is a UK city qualified lawyer with over 20 years’ experience and now supports all aspects of operational delivery at Accutrainee.  She is passionate about talent and has a ‘People First’ approach to   training legal professionals to equip them with the right skills to work in   private practice and in-house. She also sits as an advisory board member for universities and organisations to support employee engagement and uses her position to champion initiatives which promote change, diversity, inclusion, and equity. 

We discuss the importance of data in measuring progress on diversity, being a true business partner as an in-house lawyer, and the opportunities available at Accutrainee for students and graduates.

In episode 4, we speak with Sandli Pandey who graduated with a degree in Law from King’s in 2021.  She is currently completing the LPC at BPP University, before joining international commercial law firm Ropes & Gray as a Trainee Solicitor in September 2022.   Whilst at King’s, Sandli was Treasurer of King’s Women in Law, and a Law Council Representative. She was also involved in the Blockchain Society, participated in many law society competitions and, in her second year of studies, represented a global law firm at King’s as their Campus Ambassador.

We discuss what studying Law is really like; getting to know people and King's through involvement with student societies; navigating legal careers as an international student; and looking ahead to becoming a commercial solicitor.  

In episode 3, we talk to Evellyn Geemon who graduated with a Law degree from King’s College London in 2020.  Upon graduating, Evellyn went on to the University of Leeds to complete her LLM in International Human Rights Law.  She has interests in access to justice and equality, completing her dissertation on the topic of gender-based violence in India and government failures to protect women.

Evellyn developed her interest in immigration law on completion of a mini-pupillage with 1MCB Chambers and then went on to complete an internship with Sterling and Law where she was able to gain first-hand experience in completing visa applications. Since then, she has worked towards working in immigration through completing workshops in immigration law and more.  

We discuss dipping into different areas of law; cold-calling to secure work experience; job hunting as an international student; and how extra curricular activities can enhance your personal and professional development. 

In our second episode, we speak with Jonathan Iyer who studied Law at King’s College London.  Shortly after completing the Accelerated LPC at BPP University, Jonathan undertook a training contract with the global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright where he completed seats in Banking, Corporate M&A, Employment and Disputes.  He also spent time on an international secondment to Sydney, Australia.  Jonathan initially qualified as a corporate employment lawyer and spent a number of years in both private practice and in-house.  More recently, Jonathan has made a career transition to a more generalist commercial role in-house at a global video technology company as the company's first legal hire outside of North America.

We discuss how to go about researching careers in law, what working in-house is really like, debate the merits of specialisation, and having the confidence to follow your chosen path.

In the first episode of Series 3, we talk to Mev Kilinc who studied Religion, Philosophy & Ethics at King’s College London.  Mev was a paralegal for several years and qualified as a solicitor in 2019 at global law firm Baker McKenzie LLP into their Banking team.  She has recently moved to US firm Haynes Boone LLP to join the fund finance team. In her spare time Mev is a mentor to students from underprivileged backgrounds aspiring to enter the legal profession. Mev is also an advocate and champion of diversity and inclusion within the City.   

We discuss the importance of imparting knowledge and information through mentoring, the information gap, and ask: "Why do law firms recruit two years in advance?"

In the final episode of Series 2, we speak with Simona Corcoz who graduated with a Law degree from King’s in 2012.

Simona’s journey to becoming a litigator took her down many paths.  If you include secondments, paralegal experience and moving jobs, in her career just short of 10 years, she’s worked in 7 different places. These include the Financial Conduct Authority and the in-house legal teams of two Big Four accountancy firms.

Simona’s now a Senior Associate in the Civil Fraud & Business Disputes team of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, one of the biggest players in the global market employing over 2,000 lawyers.  

In a straight talking interview, we discuss feeling empowered in your career and the life choices you make, progressing as a woman in the legal profession, and what the next generation of lawyers need to know as they research employers.  

In this Special Episode, we speak with Ladan Mirzadeh Hong.  Ladan has over 14 years of experience working in the Higher Education sector, mainly in Widening Participation. She is currently working as the Widening Participation Careers Consultant at King’s. The main focus of Ladan’s role is to develop and lead on Careers+, an exclusive programme of additional careers-related activities and support for UK domiciled, undergraduate students from low socio-economic and marginalised backgrounds. 

We discuss workplace cultures, how critical authenticity is to retaining and developing talent, and learn more about King's Careers+ programme.

In this episode, we are joined by Sam Ridgway who graduated from King’s in 2018 with a BA in Geography.  Following graduation, Sam returned to his home city of Oxford to study an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Oxford. On beginning his studies at Oxford, Sam also re-joined his previous employer White & Black, a corporate, commercial and IP specialist law firm, working part-time in a paralegal role alongside his University course. Completing his Masters in summer 2020, Sam joined the firm full-time as a Trainee Data Privacy Consultant, completing his CIPP/E exams in summer 2021 to become a Certified Information Privacy Professional.

We discuss identifying transferable skills from your university studies and student experience, the benefits of working outside London, using your professional network effectively, finding out what you're good at, and becoming an expert in Data Privacy.

In Episode 8, we speak with Aurore Raoux, who studied English and French Law, followed by a LLM in European Law (and International Commerce/Shipping) at King's. After completing several internships in commercial law firms in London, Aurore interned in the Legal Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels. And here opened a whole new world of law, politics and public affairs mixed together. She has been working for six years in Brussels, representing media and tech companies in their relations with EU Institutions. In a post-Brexit world, there is still a lot of EU-UK relevant work to do when it comes to digital policies.

In a wide ranging interview, we discuss the importance of securing mentors, connecting with alumni, identifying key transferable skills from your legal studies, and reassessing your options when things don't go to plan.  

In this episode, we speak with Elisabeth Talbourdet-Ville, a lawyer and project manager specializing in Legal Design. After graduating from King's College London and La Sorbonne dual LLB Program, she went on to study international law at Sciences Po, and Columbia Law School.  Elisabeth trained as a lawyer amongst renowned law firms in London and Paris and discovered Legal Design working in-house. 

A legal design pioneer amongst her generation, Elisabeth has worked on over 40 projects and facilitated dozens of workshops and conferences pertaining to Legal Design. She is currently taking on a new role as an in-house lawyer for the French Government Open Data Innovation Program.

We discuss the importance of learning the rules of the game, refining the direction of your career plans, tapping into an entrepreneurial mindset, and learning from your peers and work experience opportunities.

In this episode, we speak with Mathias Cheung who graduated from King's in 2013 before studying for the BCL at the University of Oxford, taking the Bar Professional Training Course at City Law School and getting called to the Bar in 2015.  Mathias then completed his Pupillage at Atkin Chambers, where he now practises as a Commercial Barrister specialising in construction, engineering, infrastructure and energy disputes, professional negligence and international arbitration. Since 2021, he has been ranked as a “leading junior” at the London Bar in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, and also as a “rising star” in the Asia Pacific region.

We discuss the Bar as a profession, having the confidence to meet people through events and activities at King's, and the importance of perseverance in order to achieve your goals.

In this episode we are joined by special guest, Graham Browning. In 20 years as Freshfields' trouble shooter, his unique path focused on culture, crisis and change - such as 'Being Freshfields', the firm's first initiative to transform its culture globally. He is now a business coach, international trainer and leader of a team who resolve sensitive workplace issues.

In a wide ranging interview, Graham shines a light on what law firms are really like and how to navigate them successfully. He shares insights from his experience in Law (teaching, training at Clifford Chance, fee-earning then in-house employment law), HR (performance, mental health and inclusion work with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust) and psychology. It is a relaxed and informal discussion about being yourself, inclusion, the keys to career success (or failure), doing a job that really matters to you, and thinking like a savvy buyer as you assess potential employers. Whether or not you are thinking about City Law, you are sure to find something of lasting value here.

In Episode 4, we speak with Cai Cherry who graduated with a degree in Law from King’s in 2021.  He is currently completing the Accelerated LPC at The University of Law, before joining global law firm DLA Piper as a Trainee Solicitor in August 2022. After completing the LPC in early 2022, Cai is planning on studying for the New York Bar.

In a wide ranging discussion, we talk about Cai's involvement with The Media Freedom Project through King's, matching his academic interests to his future employer, the support provided by MyPlus, and disclosing his disability during recruitment processes.  

In this episode, we speak with Kristin Lyaskova who studied Law with European Legal Studies at King’s and spent one year as an Erasmus student in Heidelberg, Germany. Following graduation and a one-year career break from law, Kristin completed an internship at the European Court of Justice and, in light of the Brexit vote, went on to study for an LLM in Finance in Frankfurt.  She then stayed in Germany and worked in banking law, corporate law and financial regulation at Freshfields and at Dentons. Kristin is now a Senior Associate at PwC Legal in Frankfurt. 

Kristin shares her experience of studying in different countries and navigating the training contract application process. She also discusses the value of gaining non-legal work experience, working in multi-disciplinary teams, and the reality of being a dual qualified lawyer within the complex world of financial regulation. 

In Episode 2, we speak with Felipe Tirado, a PhD Candidate and Visiting Lecturer in Law at King's College London (KCL), who also holds a Masters in Law from KCL and UFMG (Brazil). Currently, Felipe is a researcher associated with the King's Brazil Institute and the Center for Studies on Transitional Justice (UFMG), a Senior Editor of King's Student Law Review, and a member of the Human Rights Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association in the state of Minas Gerais. 

We discuss Felipe's experience on the Transnational Law LLM, motivation for his research, the realities of embarking upon a PhD, his passion for teaching, and the importance of believing in your chosen path.

In the first episode of Series 2, we speak with Berliana Tjendera, who graduated with a degree in Law from King’s in 2021.  Berliana is currently taking a gap year, working as a paralegal, before embarking upon the LPC and joining leading international commercial law firm, Linklaters, as a Trainee Solicitor in March 2023. During her time at King’s, Berliana was the President of the KCL ASEAN Society where she led a 14-person committee to host new and exciting initiatives for their members amidst pandemic-related disruptions. Berliana was also an active member of the Negotiation, Streetlaw, and Indonesian Societies.  

Berliana shares how she tackled assessment centre nerves, the transferable skills which she developed during her time at King's, the benefits of getting involved with student societies, and how debating "hot topics" with your friends is good practice for interviews.

In this Special Episode of Let's Talk Law, we are joined by two guests who have both contributed a lot to King’s Careers & Employability: Helen and Brett.  Helen combines extensive experience as a careers consultant, including 14 years working with Dickson Poon students, with that as a graduate recruitment and development manager in corporate law, accountancy and blue chip organisations.  Brett has spent over 10 years leading Entry Talent teams in the legal sector and has worked for a number of the UK’s largest firms. In recent years Brett has also taken on employability projects – collaborating with King’s College London, University of Law and University of York. 

In a wide ranging interview, we discuss what recruiters look for in a successful applicant and share top tips for preparing for assessment centres and interviews.

In this episode we speak with Justyna Kurzela who graduated from King's with an LLB in Law with European Legal Studies and an LLM in International Financial Law.  During her LLB, she spent a year abroad at the University of Strasbourg.  Since graduating, Justyna has held various roles in the public sector including at the Bank of England and the European Central Bank.  We discuss how Justyna's LLM studies provided a solid foundation for her career in finance, the power of effective mentorship, and taking the scenic route to law.

In this episode, we speak with Andrew Hall who recently graduated with a Masters in War Studies from King's, studying part-time alongside his role as Legal Counsel at global speciality insurer AXA XL.  Andrew's work focuses on investigations, litigation and special risks such as kidnap, piracy and ransom.  In his spare time he is a filmmaker and climber.  

In a wide ranging interview we discuss changing directions and making the move from private practice to in-house.  We also touch on being the independent voice in the room, the growing importance of project management skills, merging academic and professional interests, and why asking genuine questions throughout your career really helps.  

In this episode, we speak with Emelyne Peticca who is an Associate at Constantine Cannon LLP where she specialises in Art & Cultural Property Law and Commercial Dispute Resolution.  Emelyne graduated from King's with a degree in English Law & French Law and also has an MSc in Art Law and Business from Christie's Education, London.  

We learn how Emelyne has combined her lifelong passion for art with a career in law.  We also discuss broadening your horizons and developing commercial awareness through work experience, creating opportunities for yourself as a student, applying the law practically to your clients' situation, and being a tourist in London.   

In this episode, we speak with Laurence Hortas-Laberge who is a Canadian qualified lawyer.  Laurence graduated in Law from the University of Montreal and completed an LLM in Transnational Law at King's, specialising in Business and Human Rights.  She is currently pursuing a career at the International Criminal Court where she had been a trainee.  Laurence recently successfully completed all required examinations for her pending admission to the New York Bar.

We discuss feeling empowered whilst studying at King's, being confident when pursuing career opportunities, and the ongoing intellectual challenge of criminal defence work.