Legal Scene Interviews: Shannon Tong, Future Trainee Solicitor

• Current university and degree: LLB, Queen Mary University of London

• Training Contract holder at Irwin Mitchell

• Brief introduction of yourself: I recently finished the Accelerated LPC and will be starting my Training Contract in Personal Legal Services next year! I am really passionate about diversity, inclusion and accessibility and that is one of the reasons why I decided to start my ‘legal blog’ on Instagram. I hope to share my experiences with everyone so that they can get a better understanding of what a career in law entails.

Why did you choose to be a lawyer?

I’ve always been interested in how people overcome challenges in life, especially when they are the underdog. I feel like law gives me the opportunity to support individuals as they fight their personal battles and to make a positive impact on people’s lives. On top of that, I enjoyed reading and writing while in school as well as putting together a compelling argument. I chose to pursue law as a career so I can apply these skills while helping others.

How did you manage your time as a student?

During my LPC, I used Google Calendar to manage my time. I use my calendar as my to do list as well and populate it with everything that needs to get done. I love the flexibility that comes with a calendar application as you can easily block out time for certain tasks and them move them around if your schedule changes. I don’t think I could ever go back to a paper diary!

What are your top tips for training contract / vacation scheme applications?

Do not under-estimate the importance of developing your application writing technique! Being able to justify why you want to work in law and why you want to train with a certain firm can be challenging. Really take the time to reflect so that you can develop a strong answer and link your answer back to your past experiences. Develop your writing so that your passion comes through on paper.

In your opinion, is work experience important?

I think it is your overall experience which is important – not specifically just work experience. This includes experiences you may have in sports, volunteering or other extra-curriculars. There are so many soft skills developed through such activities and being able to outline and evidence these skills can really help you stand out. For instance, I competed in powerlifting while at university which helped me develop time management skills, resilience and set long-term goals.

With that said, work experience can of course be strong confirmation of your skills too, as well as demonstrate your commitment to a legal career. So yes, it is important, but don’t overlook your other experiences. It is the skills you develop through your extra-curriculars which will help you get your foot through the door to land that first legal job.

Any advice for aspiring law students?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and to network! There is so much you can learn by speaking to others and you never know what opportunities might come along. A great way to reach out is by using LinkedIn! I have a post on my page with tips on how to do this.

How do you deal with rejections?

Rejections can be hard – I have definitely experienced my fair share. I try to turn it into a positive by reflecting on what I have learnt from the experience so that I can improve for the future. Rejections are unfortunately part of the process, but each rejection means that you are one step closer to success!

What are your future goals?

To qualify as a solicitor in an area which I love working in! Hopefully I will have achieved this by 2023.

---

Follow Shannon on Instagram @shannontong17 to see her experiences, tips and insights!

---

Follow us on Instagram.

Subscribe to our Youtube

Like us on Facebook