From languages to law: how to make your non-law background your biggest asset

My first training contract assessment centre will forever be etched into my memory. Fresh out of university with zero legal knowledge, and draped in an ill-fitting suit, I came away from the day feeling pretty deflated: it seemed that everyone I met had already been involved in setting a binding precedent in the Supreme Court, whilst the extent of my legal experience was binge watching the first two seasons of Suits in the previous week. Perhaps law was not for me.

Fast forward four years and, after an enjoyable year working at the firm as a legal assistant, I sit in my first seat as a trainee at Russell-Cooke, feeling pretty glad that I didn’t let my first taste of life at a law firm put me off a career in the legal profession altogether. 

Like many, I found the training contract application cycles draining and frustrating. However, I did find that I learnt a lot through the various applications, assessment centres and interviews which I completed. In particular, the most important lesson I learnt was that the experience I had gained away from law was actually my biggest strength.

Whilst studying languages at university, I spent time working in Spain as a sports journalist and translator as well as a stint studying abroad in Brazil. I then spent a while volunteering at a Latin American charity in London and pulling pints at a pub. Whilst completely unrelated to law, these experiences helped me develop important transferable skills that have been useful in my early legal career.

My biggest bit of advice to potential applicants is therefore to think about what you have done away from law that will make you stand out on paper and be interesting to discuss at interview. Think about the skills that you have developed through other work, volunteering or social experiences and make sure you can explain how they will be applicable and relevant to the legal sector. 

Of course, legal experience does not go amiss – I would also recommend getting any and all legal work experience possible, whether it be volunteering at a university’s pro bono centre or a local legal advice centre, or informal work experience at high street firms.

The great thing about Russell-Cooke’s trainee recruitment is that there is no one 'type' of trainee that the firm is looking for: those from legal as well as non-law backgrounds are equally welcome to apply, and the result is a diverse group of trainees with different interests and skillsets.

At the end of the day, the more you have to write about and talk about during the application, the better chance you have of being successful. Good luck!

Tom Cunild is currently a first-seat trainee in the private client team. 

Applications for our 2027 training contract and 2025 vacation scheme will open on 8 November 2024 and will close on 7 February 2025.