Jonathan Hague
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Self-employed
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
I secured a training contract with an international law firm based in London before moving to a “Magic Circle” firm specialising in investment management. I have since worked “in house” in London and Mauritius and now enjoy independent practice. I qualified both as a solicitor and barrister in England & Wales and am shortly due to be admitted to the bar of Mauritius.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I chose this career as a natural continuation and to better understand the practical side of my academic studies. I enjoy the intellectual challenge and satisfaction of approaching an issue, breaking it down and studying the components from all angles in order to adopt a solution for clients who need guidance.
Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?
I was a member of the kickboxing club to develop my childhood and teenage involvement in martial arts.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
Learning French law in French while seated in a UK based university made for a more challenging, interesting and unique university experience. The course taught me to use my mind in new ways and think in French to enable true fluency. There was great camaraderie amongst our (then) relatively small group of French law students who began under the tutelage of Dr. Frederic Rolland in the autumn of 1999! Great memories.
What did you enjoy most about studying here?
Learning specialised new skills for the wider legal and business world in a “top ten” university blessed with a relaxed and green campus situated in a stunning region of the UK.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
1. I wished to combine a useful degree, that matched my personality, with the French language. 2. In the 90’s the European Commission often consulted Exeter law school due standards of excellence. 3. I grew up in the countryside and did not wish to move to an urban environment to study for my degree.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
The academic tools of the craft unveiled at Exeter are relevant to legal practice from the first day to the last. I now live in Mauritius (Indian Ocean), where the legal system has been broadly built upon older English court procedures with some elements of substantive English law and greater aspects of French law. In terms of “soft skills”, time and experience teach us to relax under pressure and allow the mind to focus more easily and produce better results.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
One of the most significant “silent exports” of the UK is the English legal system and expertise of its practitioners. This is not simply historic but genuinely founded upon unparalleled levels of rigour and integrity across the members of the profession. How does this begin to translate for Exeter law school graduates entering the profession? Set-aside office politics and always remain true to what is right, regardless of outside influences, and the task at hand.
What are your plans for the future?
To continue to focus on learning and development in my newer jurisdiction and dedicate to family time – parenting two young children is a wonderful experience with both challenges and rewards!
