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“How did YOU become a legal advisor?” At my high school reunion, this was the one question that people asked me a lot. I was not surprised by the question and expected it to pop up in between answering queries about certificate providers and LPAs. I answered, albeit jokingly, “I draw my inspiration from Mike Ross in Suits” (the American legal drama).
Twenty-five years after graduating from high school, the conversational tone is quite different from what it was in high school. It’s met more with surprise rather than dismissal, more astonishment over hopelessness. You see, because I was an average student in school, I was least expected to outshine my fellow batchmates as a solicitor.
However, the real story behind my sudden transition from the construction sector to becoming a legal associate is not the simple rags-to-riches story you see in films. It’s about me crafting my own story of success.
Let me tell you more about my journey!
Building a Foundation, Brick by Brick
I was never destined to become a legal advisor. Fresh out of high school, I wanted to go to college, but my financial situation prompted me to skip college and work for a well-known supplier of decorative aggregates in Norfolk.
I began my career working as a general operator, where for months I worked hard on a huge quarry site. Quarry sites are not a pretty sight; they can be loud and dangerous most of the time, with heavy-duty machines and process plants running noisily.
I still remember how intimidated and insignificant I felt when I first saw huge construction equipment collecting building aggregates. It was a defining moment for a person as inexperienced as me. I didn’t let the sheer enormity of the construction environment get to me and quickly learned the tools of the trade. I was hungry for success, and my employer knew that, so they trained me for the next level over the next couple of months.
As a plant operator, I was entrusted to look after the health and safety, housekeeping, and environmental regulations while on an asphalt plant. Those years, leading up to my career progression, were tough yet fulfilling. Soon I transitioned from rummaging grit and gravel to constructing buildings. It was full of challenges, but I knew I was on the right path. Yet, even without a civil engineering degree, I had enough skills and experience to bag a role as a Project Coordinator for a building site. The booming UK construction sector also helped my cause.
Elevating to the Next Level
During my role as a coordinator, I started learning more about people management skills, something people learn at a business school. After completing my undergraduate degree on the side, I felt like I had more control over my education and career by having a degree years after leaving high school. I certainly had to consider some financial aid. A friend walked me through options such as short-term loans, personal loans, etc., and somehow, it all helped bridge the financial gaps.
As a Project Coordinator, leading a team was a new feeling, and it was a natural progression after working, assisting, and managing multiple large-scale projects. What intrigued me was the sheer number of contracts and regulatory requirements I had to deal with. There was a lot of paperwork and problem-solving involved, something the other coordinators struggled with and steered clear of. However, I soon realised that this was the actual learning curve for me.
From meeting worker welfare regulations to negotiating with the contractors, I gained a lot of knowledge about construction law and it piqued my interest. In my spare time, I pored over law books that talked about the regulations in the construction industry. What stemmed as mere curiosity was budding into a passion for law. I was intrigued by how the law governed almost every aspect of the UK’s construction industry. Soon enough, I realised that my interests had shifted from construction to law, and I felt a natural inclination to learn more about the legal system.
Then I had a brainwave – what if I make my career transition into law?
At first, the thought itself was hilarious. How can a construction manager with no formal education jump into the legal universe? Secondly, even if I decided to take the plunge, I was risking my stable career in the construction sector to the uncertainty of a new profession where I had no formal background.
These and more such thoughts plagued my mind as I mulled over it. But one thing was for certain – if I didn’t take the leap of faith now, much later in life, I would always wonder ‘What if’?
I did not want to live with that regret.
From Hard Hats to Law Books
The time was ripe to take the plunge into the legal profession. After a lot of second-guessing, I enrolled myself in a distance-learning Post Graduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) course. It’s a law conversion course meant for non-law graduates, helping them transition to the next step to becoming a lawyer. It was heartening to know that you don’t always need a law degree to become a lawyer in the UK.
I had no practical experience as a paralegal, and so I felt out of touch with the legal jargon and terms used in the course. However, I picked up pace during the one-year course and became more comfortable with drafting legal documents, doing research and more.
Long hours of study and working unpredictable hours at my day job were tough and demanding, to say the least, but in hindsight, the entire process was challenging and humbling at the same time. But if there’s something that my early exposure and subsequent experience in the construction sector have taught me, it’s the importance of being resilient. I became more open to challenges, however big or small they were. Moreover, my first-hand experience in handling tough construction legal battles gave me an edge over my peers.
The Final Verdict
After completing my PGDL course, I was well on my way to becoming a solicitor. This meant I had to begin my preparation for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) ahead of taking SQE assessments. It meant more time and effort into studying for assessments, but it also meant inching closer to my ultimate goal.
After multiple trainings for SQE1 and SQE2, I took the final exam and aced it! What a thrilling moment it was for me to know what I had set my heart and mind to was coming to fruition.
Summing Up
From sifting building grits to building grit and determination in whatever I set my mind and heart to, today, I think I have come a long way from a construction newbie to an experienced solicitor with expertise in construction-related legal matters. Now my days are spent on a different kind of construction; I build law and order instead of buildings. I am now fairly adept at navigating the complexities of construction law, advocating for fair practices, and helping my clients resolve disputes.
I wouldn’t say the transition was easy; it was beyond challenging. However, something I’ve learnt from this entire experience is that if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.
Finding my passion may have been a stroke of luck, but following it through was definitely a result of hard work and determination, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I may not be a natural genius like Mike Ross in Suits, but I know the most unexpected paths can lead to the most fulfilling destinations if only you’re ready to take the plunge.
