Ben Gardner

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Reed Smith LLP

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

Since leaving university, I have been studying for my LL.M in Legal Practice and the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination). Whilst studying for both, I have had the opportunity to undertake non-legal placements within Reed Smith LLP (10-weeks with the Responsible Business team, and 10-weeks within our Global Commercial Disputes Business Development team). After finishing these placements, and passing my SQE exams, I have moved into a paralegal role within the Corporate, Structured Finance, Asset Finance, and Entertainment and Media teams. I will be working in this role until I start my training contract in March 2025.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I have had a varied career before I ended up in law. I had trained, qualified, and worked as a chef and front of house manager (then becoming a hotel manager and wedding coordinator). However, the thread that ties both together is the element of customer service. I have always strived to work within a customer service role as that has been one of the professional strengths I have always had, but I found that I would also be able to utilise many of my other skills and knowledge when working with clients in law. This because the foundational reason as to why I wanted to work in the industry, as I could put all of my knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm into new and interesting streams of work that come from working in a law firm.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

The University of Exeter Law Society (UELS) – LGBT+ officer / Treasurer
The Howard League for Penal Reform – treasurer

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I was fortunate enough to be able to take part in the Reed Smith placement year through the university. This gave me the opportunity to work within the firm for a full academic year within the Pro Bono department. During my time in the team, I was able to work on several different types of projects (such as leave to remain applications, citizenship applications, human rights research, and others) while also working with team members from across the London and European and Middle Eastern offices. Being able to experience a wide range of legal tasks as well as working with colleagues from different levels of the firm gave me a unique and exciting change to learn about the industry and the firm. By far, the most enjoyable time on placement was finding out the positive results of the applications we had sent to the Home Office on behalf of our clients. Being able to be a part of a team that helped people who were experiencing some of the worst times of their life really solidified why I wanted to work in a firm that really supported a multitude of communities.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

The best thing about studying at Exeter was the skill and expertise of the lecturers. Having previous practitioners and sector experts teaching their specific expertise was something that provided me with the opportunity to refine the areas that I wanted to work in. It also helped shaped my belief in where I could apply to in the future as I was able to see successful lawyers and academics who had come from similar backgrounds and experiences.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

As a Russel Group university, I knew that Exeter was going to be one of the best places I could study at. At the same time, the location of the university was perfect with campus being close to Dartmoor and several beaches. 

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Communication, time keeping, prioritisation, and being able to adapt to work with lots of different colleagues.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Getting into law is incredibly difficult, and there is always an element of luck to accessing the industry. But, you should always try and do as much as possible to highlight your strengths from different aspects of your background. This includes any and all work experiences, all of your university society experiences, and anything else that might set you apart from other candidates – and it doesn’t have to be law related!

What are your plans for the future?

I am looking forward to starting my training contract in March 2025 and finding out where I will start in my seats.