Recent Bristol law graduate, Alex Tweeddale, now working in the area of data protection and privacy law, explains.
The ‘Route-1’ approach of firing applications to law firms and hoping one will land is almost outdated. Perhaps this was the best approach for previous generations, however, there is a now a new modern, agile way of working which simply isn’t spoken about so much in University career days. For example, going to work in a developing start-up gives you experiences you simply would not get by jumping straight into a training contract.
Moreover, if you do work in a start-up and want to transition into a city law firm, you will have built up such a strong portfolio of skills, publications and contacts, meaning you may stand out from people who have been trained rigorously to the practices of a city law firm for 2 years.
An emerging industry: Self-Sovereign Identity
Alex Tweeddale, a recent graduate from the University of Bristol has joined IDWorks, a London based start-up, who are creating a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) solution for companies and individuals. Alex is attempting to spread awareness about the benefits which an SSI model can provide society and wants to encourage Bristol students to get involved in the industry.
What is SSI?
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is a new, innovative, technological approach to digital identity, which puts the control and ownership of personal data into the hands of an individual, rather than multiple organisations. It also adds trust to digital interactions by using signed digital attributes called ‘Credentials’.
Currently, an individual’s digital identity and personal data is scattered across multiple companies’ centralised databases. For example, your Facebook profile is owned by Facebook, and if Facebook were to shut down, you would lose part of your digital identity.
Similarly, to rely on a copy of your University diploma, you must request a physical copy from your University and it often it must be sealed and stamped. SSI is a technology which takes the concept of this sealed and stamped envelope and puts it into a digital format (Credential), using cryptography, and anchors it to an individual’s mobile device.
When the individual needs to share this digital diploma as proof of their degree or their identity, the verifying party can ascertain, through cryptographic resolution, that the diploma credential had been issued and digitally stamped by the University. This is more efficient and trustworthy because it removes the potential for fraudulent documentation.
Why is this necessary?
In short, the current state of data management is fundamentally insecure, and as such, individuals have lost their security, control and privacy on the internet. Individuals no longer know where their personal data is being used and companies are exploiting your data for commercial gain behind your back, and by using ‘clickwraps’ which skirt round the GDPR’s consent requirements.
It is time to take back control of your identity online!
Why should you consider this route?
Working in a start-up in an emerging technology allows you to be more creative and flexible than working in a traditional law firm. You can be creative in how you market, pitch and sell your product and the working hours are often flexible and allow remote work. Additionally, you are working towards something which will genuinely make a difference in how the world functions at its core. And if I haven’t convinced you already, often you will earn a higher salary per hours of work than starting in a law firm.
Get in touch
Sounds cool? Want to get involved? Drop Alex an email at: alex@idworks.io