Please, tell us something about yourself (name, current position, goals, hobbies).

Hi, my name is Melissa Mitchell, and I am currently a trainee solicitor working in a full-service regional law firm in Reading (Field Seymour Parkes LLP). I am in my third seat of my training contract and I am doing a private client specialised contract focusing on non-contentious Wills, Trusts and Estates work to qualify into this area next year.

Career-wise my goals for now are to qualify as a solicitor and to start to build my own client base. My hobbies are ever-changing but I have always been passionate about music – playing it, writing it and listening to it. I played violin in the Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra and have so many happy memories of this.

Why did you choose to study Law at Royal Holloway?

I was torn between studying history or law at university. I studied these at A Level and really enjoyed both subjects. What made me choose Law in the end was the fact that it has real world, practical application and it means I can work with clients which I knew would motivate me in my working life. I also appealed to the variety that a Law degree offered. I chose Royal Holloway based on its reputation as a university and also because the Law degree was in its second year when I started which meant I got to be part of something new and exciting. The lecturers I met on applicant days were incredibly nice and I just knew it was the right choice for me.   

What was your experience like at RHUL? What did you enjoy the most? 

The best ever. I really enjoyed my time at Royal Holloway – the environment and the people were so welcoming and friendly and I always felt at home. I loved the university grounds and how quiet and relaxing campus could be, but also being so close to London was fantastic. London was not only great for nights out, it was also invaluable for networking, careers events and university competitions – competing at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and mooting in the Supreme Court were particular highlights! My favourite topics included evidence – I loved learning about the rules behind criminal trials in particular – as well as international law, equity and trusts and I really enjoyed writing my dissertation on assisted dying, in which I compared the euthanasia debate with the UK’s legalisation of suicide.   

Did you take advantage of any of the extra‐curricular activities organised by the Department? Do you think they helped you? How and why?

Yes definitely – I tried to get involved as much as possible with departmental competitions, including mooting, client interviewing and negotiations. I ran Negotiation competitions in my second and third year as part of the Law Society and competed in these too. I cannot overstate how much I think these helped me, not only in making friends with fellow students, but also in getting the opportunity to meet working professionals who would judge the competitions and developing key legal skills and confidence. Admittedly I was nervous to do these activities at first, but I genuinely found them fun and the way they brought the law to life soon took over any nerves I had.

How did your experience at the Department prepare for your career?

Being a Law student at Royal Holloway prepared me so well for my career. The tutors were excellent academics and experienced professionals, so I felt I was always getting a balance of textbook and real-world learning from them which I do not know I would have found anywhere else. They were also so approachable with questions and to help with general academic development that I was able to make the most out of my studying. This prepared me for my career by giving me profound knowledge of a range of areas of the law and a sound grasp of how legal concepts work in practice. Every seminar, lecture, competition and so forth was also a brilliant opportunity to make friends and meet people - teamwork and support was always encouraged at Royal Holloway. This has helped me to work well with others and bounce ideas off people which is invaluable in my career.

Are there any members of the academic and administrative staff who you would like to commend for the support they gave you?

Elaine Carter was an incredible mentor for me – she was always there to help me and really encouraged me to have confidence in my abilities and embrace extra-curricular competitions. I honestly could not thank her enough. Dr Leonardo V P de Oliveira was also incredibly nurturing and gave me some of the best advice I have ever had – he made a real effort to know and understand his students on a personal level and that made an enormous difference. Whenever I doubt myself, I always think back to what Leonardo has said to me. Again, I could not thank him enough. Dr Tim Sinnamon and Dr David Yuratich were also amazingly supportive and really helped me both personally and academically.

Did you enjoy your years at RHUL?

I really did – it was the perfect university for me. It had everything I could want. My degree was remarkably interesting and varied, I loved learning new skills through legal competitions and networking / careers events and I made amazing friends and memories. I also really enjoyed being involved with the Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra and meeting other musicians this way – it was the perfect counterweight for a reading-heavy degree.

Any tips for applicants or newly‐enrolled students?

My advice for applicants would be to study something you enjoy and make the most of being able to learn about something you’re passionate about – it’s really exciting and I think many careers (law in particular) can be all the better for coming to them from a different background. It’s amazing how studying what you enjoy can bring different skills and perspectives to your future career whatever your degree or career may be. For newly-enrolled students, I would say again to really enjoy studying something you’re interested in and I would suggest finding ways to make your learning 3D and engaging (such as joining societies, taking part in competitions, visiting court/museums/places related to your degree etc!). Also, and most importantly, I would say to work hard, play hard. Enjoy plenty of downtime and making memories with friends – it’s over fast!