In house lawyer and Law School alumni, Femi Adeluola (LLM 2022) shares his journey from studying LLM Commercial Law to taking the SQE and establishing a successful legal career in the UK. Femi shares some highlights of his studies and some useful careers advice for those considering a career in law.
Why did you choose postgraduate law at Bristol?
When thinking of studying a Master of Laws programme, I had a checklist that I needed the university to meet. The university had to have a good reputation, well equipped research facilities and a reputation of attracting international students to encourage diversity of thought. The University of Bristol easily met my criteria.
What were some highlights from your course and how did your studies help you to achieve your future goals?
I enjoyed the very interactive lectures and seminars facilitated by experienced lecturers. These sessions were enhanced by the fact that a lot of my classmates were lawyers in different jurisdictions, this created healthy discussions and allowed me to understand the practicalities of the law from diverse perspectives.
Diversity of thought is the bedrock of education.
As part of my programme, I enrolled in the Financial Markets and Bank Regulation taught by Holly Powley. This piqued my interest in the banking industry, and I wanted to explore this further. So, when I came across my current role at the bank, I thought it would be a good opportunity to put my knowledge to good use. I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed working in the banking industry.
What is your current role and what are your responsibilities?
Currently, I work as an in-house counsel at Zempler Bank Limited in London. My day-to-day involves responding to claims and disputes filed against or on behalf of the business. I also provide contract and legal advisory to all parts of the business.
How did you find taking the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exams (SQE1 & SQE2)?
As a qualified lawyer in my home jurisdiction (Nigeria) with work experience, I was exempted from taking the SQE 2. All I had to was apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority for the exemption.
For the SQE 1, I chose to self-study with Barbri’s 20 week course, which required 20 study hours per week. This was the most suitable option because I had to balance my SQE 1 prep with full time work and other commitments. Barbri provided me with all the required materials (books, videos on demand and a personal tutor) to help me scale the exams. The exam itself was quite the challenge, choosing a single best answer is not straightforward when the answers are similar, this is in addition to the time constraint. With focused preparation and a relaxed mind, candidates can pass the exams.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in studying law at Bristol?
The university is filled with experienced lecturers, and it has all the amenities to facilitate good learning. Away from the academic side, living in Bristol is a wonderful experience with lots of activities and opportunities to pursue your personal interests. There is something for everyone no matter how niche your interests might be.
The city also boasts law firms that can provide job opportunities for aspiring lawyers. This proximity to law firms make a career in law more accessible.
During my time at Bristol, I landed an internship opportunity in the centre of Bristol. Students and aspiring lawyers should definitely seek out career opportunities that can set a good foundation for a successful legal career.
I particularly enjoyed the law clinic – it felt really fulfilling to provide pro bono legal services to clients who otherwise would not have had access to legal redress.
For any international students looking to work in the UK, you need to start your job search as soon as you start your programme in Bristol. The job search won’t be straightforward because of sponsorship issues but with the right attitude and guidance from the careers services at Bristol you could land your dream job. It also a good idea to take advantage of events hosted by law firms at the university.
Find out more about our postgraduate programmes on the University of Bristol Law School webpages.