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Katarzyna Piotrowska Falling in Love with Law

We asked five people from the law field to talk about their careers. Learn about the pros and cons of their jobs and whether their love for law gives them what they expect.

Andy, 20, a law student

I am currently completing my third year and should get a law degreeget a law degreeget a law degree by the end of June. My father is a judgejudgejudge and my mother is a prosecutorprosecutorprosecutor, so law is a family tradition. I would like to get more experience with a summer job in a legal company and then enrol forenrol forenrol for a legal practice course (LPC). I hope this will increase my chances of getting a training contract. I definitely want to pursue my law careerpursue my law career [pursue a lawe career]pursue my law career, and my family wants me to also.

Lisa, 31, a solicitor

I work as a solicitorsolicitorsolicitor in a law firm dealing with criminal lawcriminal lawcriminal law. My responsibilities are connected with preparing documents for my clients. The casescases [case]cases can range from driving offencesoffences [offence]offences, to very serious cases such as fraudfraudfraud. When I complete all the necessary documents, I contact the barristerbarristerbarrister, who takes the case and represents the client in higher courts. I cooperate with local barristers to provide my clients with the best service. I am a team‑workerteam workerteam‑worker, so being a solicitor matches my skills and meets my expectations.

Penelope, 42, a judge

My job is very important to me, but when I was in my twenties I didn’t consider becoming a judge. I chose a law profile in high school, but then I decided to pick a different career pathcareer pathcareer path. I started writing crime storiescrime stories [crime story]crime stories online and for nearly two years considered writing the goal ofgoal ofgoal of my life. All that changed when I needed to do researchdo researchdo research for one of my stories, “Don’t Let the Judge Judge You.” I went to the courtroomcourtroomcourtroom to watch a real trialtrialtrial. When I saw the judge, who was a woman, I realised that I could be in her place one day. I completed my story but never published it. Instead, I returned to college and did courses, training, and practices, and finally, I became a judge. Since then I have felt I am in the proper place, however much I enjoyed creative writing.

Garry, 37, a barrister

A law career was my dream, but it wasn’t easy to realise it. I come from a working‑class family and couldn’t afford an expensive college. My Latin teacher had always encouraged me to follow my dreams and believe in myself. After graduating from high school, I worked as a lifeguard and waiter. I saved up money and took out a loantook out a loan [take out a load]took out a loan to fund my studies. My hard work and determination were quickly noticed, and I received a scholarshipscholarshipscholarship for my progressprogressprogress. Now, I work as a barrister in the field of employment lawemployment lawemployment law. I have a lot of understanding for my clients because I did different jobs myself and I am not just a white‑collar workerwhite‑collar workerwhite‑collar worker. I often talk about it during my first meetings, because it helps to break the icebreak the icebreak the ice.

Emma, 33, a paralegal

I am a paralegalparalegalparalegal and I specialise in employment lawemployment lawemployment law for employees. It means that I can assistassistassist my clients at all stages of the employment process. I review the termsterms terms of their contractscontracts [contract]contracts, represent clients in employment tribunalemployment tribunalemployment tribunal, and help to deal with unfair treatment at the workplace. I value independence and a clear career path. What I also enjoy about my job is that I can offer support to my clients and see them succeed or overcome obstaclesovercome obstacles [obstacle]overcome obstacles in their work. There’s nothing better than a smile of victory on my client's face!

1 Źródło: Katarzyna Piotrowska, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.