My journey into law: a different path into the profession

As an Executive Personal Assistant in the Abuse team at Bolt Burdon Kemp and a part-time law student, I’ve taken a slightly different route into the legal profession.

Although I’ve always had an interest in law, it took time, experience and the support of those around me to realise that becoming a lawyer was a path I wanted to pursue.

Over the years, I’ve built a rewarding career in legal support and have been fortunate to progress from Personal Assistant to Executive Personal Assistant. That journey has allowed me to develop professionally, gain valuable experience and work alongside colleagues whose passion for helping clients has inspired my own career ambitions.

In this blog, I wanted to share my journey so far, from starting out in legal support roles to taking the leap into university and working towards a career in law.

Not everyone has their career mapped out

When I left school, I knew I had an interest in law, but I wasn’t completely sure which direction I wanted my career to take.

As nobody in my immediate family had gone to university, it didn’t feel like the obvious next step for me. University is a significant commitment, both academically and financially, and at 18 I just wasn’t ready to make that decision.

Instead, I chose a more practical route and enrolled on a CILEX Level 3 Legal Secretary Diploma at college. Looking back, it was the right decision for me because it gave me a great introduction to the legal profession and helped me develop skills that I still use today.

After completing my studies, I secured a role at an international law firm. During my time there, I gained valuable experience, developed professionally and built a solid foundation for the next stage of my career.

Building a career in law

After a few years, I felt ready for a new challenge. I knew I wanted to remain in the legal sector but was keen to broaden my experience. That was when I came across Bolt Burdon Kemp.

I joined BBK as a Personal Assistant in the Abuse team and, looking back, that was where my introduction to personal injury law really began.

Over the years, I’ve continued to develop within the role and was proud to be promoted to Executive Personal Assistant. It’s a role I genuinely enjoy and one that has given me opportunities to learn, develop professionally and contribute to work that makes a meaningful difference to clients. The experience and skills I’ve gained in legal support continue to play an important part in my career journey.

Initially, my focus was on supporting the team. However, over time I became increasingly interested (and still am!) in the work taking place around me. I was keen to understand how cases were progressed, the legal issues involved and, most importantly, the impact the work was having on clients’ lives.

The more exposure I had to the work, the more interested I became in the legal profession beyond my role.

Discovering a career direction

As I learned more about the work of the Abuse team, it became clear that I wanted to develop my career further within law.

Supporting the team and gaining insight into the cases being handled gave me a greater appreciation of the role lawyers play in helping clients navigate some of the most challenging periods of their lives. The work was both interesting and rewarding, and it encouraged me to think seriously about qualifying as a lawyer myself.

Pursuing that ambition would require a significant commitment. It would mean balancing study alongside full-time work and stepping outside my comfort zone. However, after giving it a lot of thought, it felt like the right next step.

For the first time, I felt I had found a career path that genuinely suited both my interests and my long-term goals.

Taking the leap into university

At 26, I decided to take the next step and apply to university. I was delighted to be offered a place on the part-time LLB (Hons) Law degree at the University of Essex.

Part of me felt a bit self-conscious about starting university at 26. There can be an expectation that university is something you do straight after school, so returning to an academic environment after several years felt quite daunting! Looking back though, it was absolutely the right decision.

Now, more than a year into my degree, I can confidently say it has been one of the most rewarding decisions I have made!

The support that made it possible

What has made this journey possible is the support I have received from Bolt Burdon Kemp.

In many ways, working at BBK helped me realise the direction I wanted my career to take. Seeing first-hand the work our lawyers do and the difference they make to clients’ lives inspired me to pursue this path myself.

The support and encouragement I have received from colleagues has given me the confidence to undertake a law degree alongside my career.

What has stood out most throughout my time at BBK is the commitment people show to achieving the best possible outcomes for clients. Watching colleagues support individuals who have experienced exceptionally difficult circumstances has reinforced why this is the area of law in which I hope to build my future career.

It is work that genuinely changes lives, and seeing that impact first-hand has been incredibly motivating.

Balancing work and study

Balancing a full-time role with a law degree is not always easy.
There are times when managing coursework, deadlines and professional responsibilities can be challenging, particularly when everything demands attention at once. However, the experience has strengthened my organisation, discipline and resilience.

Studying alongside work has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and shown me the value of consistency, commitment and long-term goal setting.

Looking ahead

I know there’s still a long way to go!

After my degree, there will be the SQE to tackle. Having seen first-hand just how much hard work and dedication it takes from colleagues who have gone through, or are currently going through the process, I know it won’t be easy.

That said, I’m hoping the foundations I’m building through my degree now will prepare me well for what’s ahead.

I’m genuinely excited about the future and where this journey might take me. Like many aspiring lawyers, I often think about the day I qualify. If I’m fortunate enough to achieve that goal, it would be a moment I’d be incredibly proud of.

For now, my focus is on continuing to learn, developing in my role as an Executive Personal Assistant and making the most of the opportunities in front of me, both professionally and academically.

There is no single route into law

One of the most reassuring moments during this journey came from attending an internal BBK ‘Junior Lawyers’ event where colleagues shared their own routes into law.

Listening to their experiences was both inspiring and reassuring. It highlighted something important: there is no single route into the legal profession. While some people follow a more traditional pathway, many others take a different route and achieve the same outcome.

My own experience has shown that careers do not always follow a straight line, and that is perfectly acceptable.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t need to have everything figured out from the outset. Whether you’re considering university later in life, changing career direction or exploring opportunities within your current role, there are often more pathways available than you initially realise.

There is no perfect time and no single route into law. What matters most is recognising opportunities for growth and having the confidence to pursue them, and I am so glad I did!