Alice Straight
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Lester Aldridge LLP
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Since leaving Exeter, I started working at a large regional law firm (Lester Aldridge LLP) on the south coast as a paralegal in the Employment department. I started studying for my Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Bournemouth University in September 2017 and continued working at Lester Aldridge LLP (LA) part time whilst studying for my PgDip. Once I had completed my course, I started working in the Healthcare Team as a paralegal at LA during the summer of 2018. I was fortunate enough to start my training contract to train as a Solicitor in September 2018. I completed my first seat in the Healthcare team and am now working in the Corporate team. I have really enjoyed the quality of work I have been involved in and the amount of learning I have done during my time at LA so far. I have been fortunate enough to attend court with colleagues, work and liaise with Counsel, assist on high value due diligence transactions, attend conferences and assist in drafting appeals and legal documents.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I choose a career in law because I wanted to be able to help people. I have found that working with individuals to find solutions to challenges has been really fulfilling. I particularly enjoyed my time in the Healthcare team and have enjoyed assisting witnesses to prepare statements for inquests and preparing grounds for appeal proceedings in the First-tier (Care Standards) Tribunal.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
I really enjoyed the quality of teaching and the enthusiasm of lecturers about their area of specialism. I also (strangely) enjoyed writing my dissertation! The writing and research process was something completely new to me and my supervision, Dr James Griffin, was very encouraging and supportive. My favourite module of third year was “Critical issues in human dignity” and the legal concept of human dignity came up regularly during my time in the Healthcare team.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
I choose Exeter for many reasons: it’s prestigious name; opportunities; quality of legal teaching and academics; location; and campus!
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
The main skills that have been useful for my career so far have been interpersonal skills and the ability to condense large problems into focused points. I have regularly dealt with individuals who need assistance in tackling large problems. Through the skills and confidence I obtained at Exeter, I have been able to help and assist in finding solutions to these problems in a logical and coherent way.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
I would suggest that other than working hard at your studies, it is important to be yourself! Get involved in extra curricular societies and build networks with people in the legal field. Attend graduate recruitment days and be confident to be yourself. It is really important to be able to relate to people on all levels, so getting a range of experiences both academically and in your wider interests is really important.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to qualify as a Solicitor in 2020 but am open-minded as to what area of law that will be in. I have enjoyed working with individuals and so hope to be specialise in an area of law that will allow me to help individuals throughout my career.
