Rebecca Emeleus is a Family Law Partner and Head of Talent and Resourcing at Rothera Bray. Rebecca started her career in law at the age of 21 by completing a long-distance learning course with CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives)
What made you decide to pursue a career in law?
I was a late starter – I started studying when I was 21, having decided that after lots of different jobs mainly in sales I needed to settle down and have a career. Law seemed interesting to me and felt like an area where I could make a difference and help people.
What was your previous experience and what qualification route did you take/are you taking if this is ongoing?
After a few jobs in sales previously I started studying by long distance learning with CILEX (I hated the classroom) when I was 21 and working at a national law firm in an admin role purely to get a foot in the door, as that was the only way for a non-qualified person to get into a law firm back then. I then managed to get into a paralegal role after 6 months or so of doing clinical records summaries.
It took me 6-7 years of study/exams in total as well as working full time in law firms to qualify as a legal executive, and then I pretty much instantly became a chartered fellow of the institute because of all the experience I had by then.
How has Rothera Bray supported you in your role/career?
I am proud to say that as a CILEX I made partner at Rothera Bray – the firm supports people from all backgrounds and routes of qualification. More recently I changed my specialism and after 27 years of doing personal injury litigation I now specialise in family work including divorce/finances and children.
The firm were incredibly supportive and encouraging to help me make the change, approaching the request with a positive mindset and asking how we can make this happen. In relation to the re-training aspect, I had incredible support from the family team.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career in law?
I would say get as much exposure and experience in legal environments as you possibly can. Get involved! Also keep an open mind in terms of the area of law you may wish to practise. There are lots of options and opportunities and in my experience, people starting out often change their minds (sometimes a few times) which is perfectly normal.
Lauren Kilbride is a Trainee Solicitor currently completing a seat in the firm’s Employment Law department. Lauren completed an LLB Law degree at Nottingham Trent University before completing the LLM Legal Practice Course in 2021. Whilst at university Lauren was involved in a variety of pro-bono work including providing social welfare legal advice through the Free Representation Unit, working with the Nottingham Law School Legal Advice Centre and the NTU LEX Law Society.
What made you decide to pursue a career in law?
I didn’t so much decide to pursue a career in law as found it by accident.
When visiting university open days, I was of the mindset that I wanted to do Geography, a subject I really enjoyed during my A-Levels. I just happened to walk into the wrong lecture theatre and happened to stumble upon the Law taster talk instead, and I’ve never looked back.
That first experience really turned my head, and I wanted a career where I could feel challenged in learning, but ultimately use that knowledge to help people in the community wherever I could and make a difference to their lives. Studying law can be challenging, but with a strong desire to learn so many different areas of law, developing those personal skills, but mostly making a difference to help people is why I chose to pursue a career in law.
What was your previous experience and what qualification route did you take/are you taking if this is ongoing?
I am currently a trainee solicitor at Rothera Bray, due to qualify in a number of weeks. Before my training contract, I undertook a Law degree with a placement year at NLS Legal (Nottingham Law School), where I spent a year working in different areas of law doing pro bono work.
After my law degree, I did the Legal Practice Course part-time whilst working full-time as a paralegal at a national firm, before joining Rothera Bray to start my training contract.
How has Rothera Bray supported you in your role/career?
Rothera Bray have been incredible throughout my training contract. Not only have I been supported throughout my period of training by having a supportive training principal, but I have also had brilliant mentors to supervise me in my training seats, all taking the time to ensure I get the best out of my training and getting me involved from the very start.
Rothera Bray have a great company culture where you feel so welcomed and supported, I look forward to starting my newly qualified solicitor role at Rothera Bray and continuing to thrive under the firm in my career.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career in law?
A career in law can look challenging, but if you have the motivation, resilience, and commitment to want to make a difference and help people, then I recommend anyone to pursue a career in law. You can help people and make a real difference to peoples’ lives, whilst developing not just your intellectual skills every day, but your personal skills too. There are many different areas of law that you could practice in and with a supportive and helpful environment to train in, you will thrive in a career of law.
Sarah Singh is a solicitor in Rothera Bray’ Private Client department. Sarah has previously worked in Equality and Diversity for Leicester City Council and as a Project Manager in legal and regulatory compliance. In February 2021 Sarah commenced her training contract in with Rothera Bray and qualified as a solicitor in February 2023.
What made you decide to pursue a career in law?
I have always been interested in justice, human rights and equalities and having worked across different sectors have seen how the law can be used to help people and shape better societies. I had worked in quasi-legal roles throughout my career and decided to study alongside work to make the jump into the legal profession where I felt my skills and attributes could be put to best use.
What was your previous experience and what qualification route did you take/are you taking if this is ongoing?
I worked as an Executive PA and then moved into specialist equality and diversity work, before working in legal and regulatory compliance. I studied for my LLB Honours through evening classes at De Montfort University in Leicester, going to classes straight from work and then studied a masters in International Human Rights Law part time at Leicester University when my son was very little. I took my LPC and masters in Legal Practice at Nottingham Trent University, also studying for this part time whilst working full time, and then completed my Professional Skills Course (PSC) as part of my training contract with Rothera Bray.
How has Rothera Bray supported you in your role/career?
Rothera Bray has been hugely supportive in helping me realise my career aspirations, not only by offering me a training contract with the firm, but also understanding that as a career changer I wanted to explore a wide variety of practice areas during my training so that I could benefit from working across a diverse range of departments and teams. The supportive and inclusive culture within the firm, combined with its family friendly environment has meant that I was able to thrive throughout my training whilst juggling caring responsibilities and has enabled me to learn so much along the way.
What advice would you offer to someone considering a career in law?
The law is amazingly diverse, and I believe there is a job to suit everyone within it. Critically, the legal profession needs to fully represent the diversity of the communities it seeks to serve, and it is made so much better by having people from all backgrounds, and with different life experiences. Whilst it is a long, competitive process to get to the point of qualification, I would advise people who are interested in a career in law to never let anyone persuade you that there isn’t room for you within the profession. I have found that the right opportunities will always present themselves if you stay focused, work hard, concentrate on the next steps you need to take, and find people who are willing to help you. Don’t let anything stand in your way.
