Erika Federis | CMS Law firm

Erika Federis studied her LPC MSc in Law, Business and Management at ULaw. At the time of this interview, she was a trainee solicitor with Foot Anstey LLP, a top 100 law firm based in the South West of England. 

Here she tells us how the University supported her throughout her studies.

I chose to study at The University of Law because of its stellar reputation.

The fact that they also offered a Masters in Law and Business alongside studying the LPC was another deciding factor for me.

The quality of teaching was absolutely fantastic, and made even better by the fact that all the tutors are practicing solicitors also.

Having suffered from significant health issues during my time at the University, my journey was certainly not the easiest. Nonetheless, the tutors were all very supportive and I owe them a great deal for helping me.

The practical approach to teaching made the course much more enjoyable because it was easier to see how the study material could relate to real-life scenarios.

The learning atmosphere was very relaxed, which enhanced the experience for me.

I gained experience in commercial property.

Prior to becoming a trainee solicitor I acted as paralegal. In that role I supported several lawyers and in particular the firm's property, infrastructure and construction sector leader. I was then very fortunate to be be offered a training contract at the firm. 

As a paralegal my work was very varied; it could range from title investigation and reporting on my findings, to drafting different legal documentations.

Commercial Property was a very busy department, although the work was something that I very much enjoyed, and the time did fly by when I was in the office.

There are plenty of skills that a law degree sets you up with, but in my opinion, the most important of these is the ability to analyse situations from differing angles.

This allows an individual to develop a more open and understanding mind, which is crucial in today's society. Having the capacity to listen to others and really understand their viewpoints is certainly a very useful skill to have too.

Law students should spend some time preparing for their career.

I made full use of the help offered by the University's Careers and Employability Services.

They were incredible at helping me prepare for applications and assessment centres, and they gave me some fantastic advice - I wouldn’t have been able to obtain my training contract at Foot Anstey, had it not been for them. So, make full use of the services available.

A degree in law opens many doors for a student, as it teaches you plenty of transferable skills.

Law is not just about reading hundreds and hundreds of pages. Law is about learning how to present yourself, how to negotiate, how to analyse situations, and how to understand others' needs.

It is knowledge and empathy combined, and in my opinion, these are the basic skills that an individual needs to set them up for any career direction.

My legal qualification has helped me to grow into the well-rounded person that I have always aspired to become, by taking me out of my comfort zone and allowing me to challenge myself on a regular basis.

I know that I still have a long way to go in terms of self-development, but I do feel that I am who I am today because of my legal journey.

Find out how ULaw Careers and Employability Service can support your career in law.