What attracted you to the LOD model?

Prior to joining LOD, I worked as a paralegal in private practice for several years in the UAE. In 2022, I decided to pursue the England and Wales solicitor qualification through the new SQE route and I knew that a full time private practice role would not give me the flexibility I wanted to prioritise my time towards my qualification.

The LOD model meant that I could continue to work flexibly whilst also focusing on my studies and exams. LOD provided me with options for work assignments that were tailored to my legal expertise/skills and allowed me to choose the amount of time I wanted to contribute to those assignments weekly.

It also provided me with the opportunity to continue gaining valuable experience and staying relevant in the legal market.

Tell us about your time with LOD and how it has supported you in your career.

I joined LOD in June 2022 prior to my SQE exams. After the exams, I had to wait approximately three months for my results. LOD gave me the opportunity to continue working as a legal consultant whilst I waited to find out if I was going to qualify.

I was able to gain a significant amount of experience in commercial law and learnt a great deal from the general counsel that I worked with directly. Now that I am qualified, I’m able to continue my current assignment while I think about what my ideal next role will be.

How has your experience been working with LOD clients?

I am currently on assignment with a multinational cosmetics corporation and I have been treated wonderfully by the team there who are consistently supportive and appreciative of me. P.S I get a free cosmetics gift bag every few months!

What are the best things about being an LOD Consultant?

I get to work flexibly on my own terms and choose assignments that allow me to continuously learn and develop my legal skills. My previous experience has mainly been in corporate law, employment law and disputes. LOD has given me the opportunity to broaden my skillset by gaining valuable experience within commercial law as well. It has also given me the time to explore other passions and think about the field I would like to specialize in.

What advice would you give new LOD Consultants starting out or someone considering a more flexible and slightly alternative legal career?

I think that as legal professionals we often put so much pressure on ourselves to reach certain milestones at certain ages and we may feel that stopping to take a break may make us irrelevant. I want aspiring legal professionals to know that it’s okay to pursue a qualification at any stage and it’s okay to take a break or choose to work flexibly at any stage of your life.

Whilst I hope to return to private practice at some point, the past year has given me an enormous amount of clarity and confidence.

How do you spend your time when you are not on secondment?

I love travelling, swimming, baking and taking my dog on adventures (that’s a hobby right?).