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Hosted by Osborne Clarke trainees and solicitor apprentices, Law Beyond Limits shares candid conversations with OC lawyers about their routes into the legal profession. Guests reflect on career highlights and hiccups, the realities of progression, and lessons learned. At its heart is social mobility: what it means, why it matters, and how we can support people from diverse backgrounds by removing barriers.
Hello, and welcome to Law Beyond Limits. I'm Tyra Edwards, a solicitor apprentice at Osborne Clarke. And today, I'm joined by Rebecca Houston, senior paralegal in our banking team. In this episode, Becca talks about her unconventional route to qualification and her experience balancing the SQA for the full time role at OCA. She also shares why LGBTQ plus networks and active allyship are so important in the workplace.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much for coming on the podcast, Becca. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2:No problem at all.
Speaker 1:Let's get straight into it. So you began your journey at OC as a legal administrative assistant, and then you moved into a paralegal role in the banking team. And you've recently qualified via the SQ route while working. Can you tell us about that journey and some of the challenges you may have faced?
Speaker 2:Yeah. Absolutely. So I started my my degree really in in Scotland, and then moved down to London and got the job as the legal administrative assistant, and then yeah straight into a paralegal role. About six months after that there was an opening, I applied for it and managed to get it and then yeah worked my way up over the past kind of four or five years into senior paralegal role. I applied for the training contract twice at Osborne Clark and was unsuccessful both times.
Speaker 2:And then I managed to get the SQE, applied for the SQE role and have, you know, managed to pass that and, yeah, hopefully associate role in the future.
Speaker 1:You mentioned that you were rejected from Ausman Clark twice. How did you redirect that rejection and like not give up hope? Did you at some point give up hope and how did you overcome that challenge?
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's an interesting question to be honest because it was quite a difficult time if I'm honest. So I was already a paralegal in the banking team and I applied to the training contract in the first year and got through all the different stages right to the very end and then yeah, was was rejected and didn't get it and to be honest I was embarrassed because I had to work walk into my workplace and know that I hadn't you know been good enough. I didn't feel like I was I was good enough. I definitely had a couple of weeks where I thought is this the career path for me?
Speaker 2:I was also I think I mentioned that I'm I was also older when kind of applied for the training contract in comparison to a lot of my peers who I'd left university with, and I think that played into it as well. But I managed to pick myself up and I thought I'll give it one more go. I applied for the VAT scheme the next year and was rejected again, again through to the final stage and rejected again. That one really hurt. That was maybe more than a couple of weeks of not not feeling, you know, like I was good good enough and that was a real I had to make a decision there as to whether or not to stop
Speaker 1:what
Speaker 2:I was doing and have a look at a different career path or pick myself up and I think I managed to do that because I had been studying for so long and I put a lot of energy into this. I loved where I worked, I loved the work I did. It just wasn't the right opportunity for me and the SQE route was coming along at the same time. There were various other different routes as well. I think Silex if that's still going on.
Speaker 2:And the SQE route came about and I thought this looks like the best route for me. And I actually will become an associate before I would have if I'd done the training contract. So if I'd done the training contract, wouldn't have finished till next year whereas I should hopefully be an associate by this year.
Speaker 1:Amazing.
Speaker 2:So yeah, it's just determination and yeah, having those kind of, as I said, friends, family around you, teammates around you and just not giving up.
Speaker 1:Do you have any advice for people who are kind of a bit demotivated from not getting the training contract?
Speaker 2:It can be really demotivating. It can. And I think it's important to know that that is a feeling that you can get and it's a possibility. But just be determined to pick yourself back up, surround yourself with good people and just if you want it, I'm a prime example of if you do want it enough, you can get it.
Speaker 1:What is the main difference between the training contract route and the route you took? How did you find out about the different routes?
Speaker 2:So the training contract has always been about really for as long as I can ever remember. I remember starting in my first year of university ten years ago and you know training contracts were on everyone's mind. The training contract is a two year course or training contract with a firm and you do six month seats in different departments, that's that's the norm anyway. And after the two years, then you apply to the firm and hopefully get an associate level role. The SQE, which has just come about in the past couple of years and is relatively new, for the SQE, you have to do something called qualified work experience, and that can be done various different institutions.
Speaker 2:It doesn't need to be at a specific firm. It can be done at a spread across a few different firms and it's just there are specific things on the SRA website that tick off for what is qualified work experience. So for me, I had already done four years of qualified work experience, you only need two. So I had already ticked that off by the time that SQE even came around. So I ticked off the qualified work experience and then you just have to sit some quite intense examinations.
Speaker 2:Some have said it's akin to like the bar in in The US. And I'm not gonna lie, they were quite difficult exams, particularly for someone like me who had been out of the education system for so long.
Speaker 1:Amazing. How did you find like balancing the SQE and while working?
Speaker 2:It was quite difficult. I was working full time whilst also doing the SQE. I think some people, particularly on my course, were doing part time work, which I think was obviously a little bit easier. But, you know, the firm were quite behind me and I just make sure made sure that I set particular boundaries. So for example, coming up to my exams, I would, you know clock off at 05:30 and I would tell my team that I was clocking off at 05:30 which meant that I could then study in the evening.
Speaker 2:So yeah, it was it was a difficult time, it was a lot but you know I could see the end result and it was definitely worth it.
Speaker 1:Amazing. You said that you moved from Scotland. Did you find that, like, moving from Scotland into a city firm quite difficult and, like, what helped you feel like you belonged?
Speaker 2:To be honest, I didn't really find the move that difficult. I moved into, you know, a really great flat in East London with amazing people that I, you know, I'm thankful to call my best friends today. I think I traveled quite a lot when I was younger had been to lots of different countries and lots of different places and actually moving to London felt more homely than a lot of these other places. It's quite a diverse city London in comparison to like my hometown in Aberdeen and I think that made me feel a sense of belonging. So I didn't really find it that difficult coming from, you know, a small town in Scotland then down to London.
Speaker 2:Did you ever encounter any like accent bias being from Scotland moving into like the London City firm where? Not really to be honest. I I don't think of myself as someone that has a strong accent but maybe I'm completely wrong. People in the room are looking at me like I'm mad. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I I don't think it's too strong an accent. Yeah. People might disagree, but I think it's more of a talking point, my accent, than anything else. Yeah. So I actually think it kind of benefits me when I'm speaking with clients or, you know, new colleagues.
Speaker 2:It's it's a talking point you know I'm obviously from somewhere that's not down south so yeah I actually find it quite it's quite good for me.
Speaker 1:At what point did you feel like you belonged in the legal profession? Do you feel like you're there yet or?
Speaker 2:Yeah I think I'm there. I think to be honest probably even from my undergraduate, I had an idea and a kind of belonging in the profession. I knew that that's where I wanted to be in the legal profession. I've had obviously a few setbacks since then, but I think I've always kind of felt that sense of of belonging. I think particularly, I mean even when I started off as an admin assistant, I mean I was was older when I started, I was 26 years old or something when I started as an admin assistant and just coming into the office an international legal practice with the hustle and bustle and I think that it was a sense of belonging in the industry at that point as well.
Speaker 1:Almost like an adrenaline rush.
Speaker 2:Yes. Yeah. Do you get the same thing?
Speaker 1:Yeah. Think like the buzz of being in the environment and then everyone's like heads down and you kind of just fit
Speaker 2:in. Yeah.
Speaker 1:That way.
Speaker 2:Definitely.
Speaker 1:You've been a big part of OC Pride while you've been here. How has that community influenced you and your confidence and your network?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So candidly, I'm not part of the the OC Pride committee, but I am part of the bigger the wider network and I do often try and push initiatives. You'll have seen it when you were doing your seat in banking, initiatives within the banking team. I am also part of the OC mental health committee and the banking specific and inclusion committee. And I think it's really important to be part of these things.
Speaker 2:It widens your network in the firm, so, you know, I get to speak to people from partner level to legal assistant to, you know, someone that works in the business support team in Bristol, Reading, in London really widened your network. And to be honest, it's quite fun. You feel like you're, you know, you feel like you're making a difference and it's something that's just not just your normal day at work.
Speaker 1:Why is it so important that everyone can show up to OC and be their full selves at work?
Speaker 2:It's important for so many reasons, but I think mainly you don't feel like you have to mask yourself when you come into work. So you don't, you know, you can put your energy into other things, put your energy into into your work, into your working relationships, make sure those relationships are more candid and you can really be yourself. I think it's really important.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I think that's one of the best things about OC, you get to like show up and be your full self.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:Yeah. What does allyship mean to you?
Speaker 2:So again, allyship is a kind of plethora of things but in the workplace, probably it's visible support, like the firm wide initiatives like wearing the pride lanyard or putting your pronouns in your signature block or the pronoun badges. They seem like a small movement but to someone from the LGBTQ plus community it's actually really important for me to see that visible support and be part of a company that projects that and is supportive and is behind that initiative. And it makes a massive difference to me, you know, if I walk into a meeting and someone is wearing a pride lanyard, I automatically feel safe, supported, I can just be myself and I don't have to worry for that first five or ten minutes, you know, when I walk into a room, you know, do they have a certain prejudice, you know, are they going to accept me for who I am, which can take away from your relationship with them and, you know, your working relationship as well.
Speaker 1:I feel like small steps can make such a big difference and like you don't even realise that you're doing those small steps.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I totally agree and I think people don't realise that these small things like putting their pronouns in their signature block is not just because I need to know or want to know what their pronouns are, it's the act of doing it is an act of solidarity.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Moving on to like looking to the future, what sort of lawyer do you aspire to be?
Speaker 2:Well, that's a full on question. I'd like to be a lawyer that's respected. I think respected for my quality of work, my working relationships, my client relationships, know, someone that people really want to work with and for. But I'd also like to be a lawyer that kind of supports and and brings up younger people, young people from diverse backgrounds and make sure that the profession is kind of more support a supportive profession and a more diverse profession.
Speaker 1:Is there anyone along your journey who's like guided you and been a support in your career?
Speaker 2:So I have a really supportive kind of friend and family network, which I think is is has been really important for me. They pick you up when you're down as I said, you know, I've I've had some downfalls in my kind of career so far and those were the people at home really making sure that I was okay and pushing me. In the workplace, I have to probably give a special mention to I am, you know ACK, he's a partner in the banking team. He's always given me continued support and and you know really has believed in my career and kind of pushed me towards it which has been really helpful having someone like that in the team.
Speaker 1:I think it's amazing someone having your back and like you know that you can walk into a room and someone's really got your back and I think it's such an important feeling.
Speaker 2:I totally agree. Yeah. It just it makes you feel worthwhile and it makes you seen seen and and you have a lot of self belief if someone else believes in you.
Speaker 1:A 100%. Where do you see your career in five to ten years? How do you, like, imagine yourself leading and does this like, to your experiences, have they influenced how you supervise trainees
Speaker 2:in Yeah. I mean, five to ten years, I'd like to have climbed up the ladder a bit and be a senior associate probably by that point. That would be the aim. And I'd like to think that I guess I've spent quite a lot of my career so far at more junior level than than most would. A lot of people kind of do a training or, you know, go to uni, do a training contract and then just get an associate level job within four or five years, something like that.
Speaker 2:Whereas it took me ten years basically to get to that point. So I've spent a lot more time at the junior level than most, which I think will hopefully influence my kind of leadership and make sure that I'm training properly and hopefully I'm someone that people feel that they can come to with any issues or questions, you know, be a relatable kind of person.
Speaker 1:Have you got any advice to someone who kind of supervises juniors and like their work and how they can help a junior feel supported?
Speaker 2:Yeah. I think put yourself in their shoes is what I always try and do. So don't over complicate things, don't try and use technical terms when they're not needed and put things down to basics. That's that's what I always try and do when I'm, you know, speaking to to, you know, someone really junior in the team.
Speaker 1:I think that definitely came across when you were helping to train me and, like, supervise me. Like, you always, like, kind of went down to my level and kind of broke things down.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And I think that's important. And I have to say I think that's OC are very good in general with that kind of non hierarchical status. What advice would you give
Speaker 1:to someone looking to apply to Osborne Clarke today?
Speaker 2:I think learn about OC's culture. We we have a great culture here at OC and it's not just the the work the work the work. It's also the things that we've spoken about, you know, the diversity and inclusion and the networks that are available to us. But I also think if you were applying, make sure that you look at the the OC sectors, make sure that you know that OC is a very innovative firm. They kind of look a lot to the future, so you know if you were applying what could you bring to the business.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a 100%. What is your top tip for aspiring lawyers looking to build a long and successful career, especially those who are like currently balancing the SQA and other commitments.
Speaker 2:Know that it's not going to be a piece of cake and just know that to start with. It's not the easiest thing to do, but don't be defeated and you know, you utilise what's around you. Definitely for me, I I used a lot of my my team members. Use doesn't maybe seem like the right word but I lent on them for help.
Speaker 1:Yeah. 100%. And to close, we normally ask our guests some quick fire questions. What does social mobility and diversity inclusion mean to you?
Speaker 2:Equal opportunity for all from from any kind of background.
Speaker 1:Why is that so important?
Speaker 2:It's important so that everyone has the same opportunity in life and that no one gets left behind.
Speaker 1:Can you finish the sentence for me? My career is fulfilling because
Speaker 2:Because it challenges me daily. And I love my job because?
Speaker 1:It challenges me daily. What's the biggest misconception about a legal career?
Speaker 2:It's not like Suits, the TV programme. You're not doing an M and A, you know, merger one one day in a boardroom and then in a courtroom, you know, the front of a a child the next.
Speaker 1:I still haven't watched these.
Speaker 2:Have you not? Don't bother. No. It is it's actually very good, but it's not quite like the work that you do every day.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, Becca.
Speaker 2:Yeah. No problem at all. Thanks for having me.