What work did you get involved with on the vacation scheme?

During my spring vacation scheme, I sat in the intellectual property (IP) and technology department, where I worked on matters involving AI, data protection and regulatory compliance for major technology and social media companies. I also spent time in pensions, where I was involved in drafting deeds and attending client calls with major investment banks.

In the IP and technology department, I researched and drafted a client update for a large tech client. This involved analysing court judgments, law firm commentary and industry sources to summarise the case background, arguments and implications. I also produced a blog post presenting the legal issues in an accessible format for a wider audience. For another tech client, I proofread a cross-jurisdictional summary of a directive prepared by Baker McKenzie’s Amsterdam office, checking dates, factual accuracy and clarity, while also monitoring live regulatory updates for inclusion.

One of my most engaging tasks was creating presentation notes for a business development pitch based on the firm’s work for a major social media company’s AI-powered chatbot. I researched the full regulatory background, the client’s initial compliance challenges and explained how Baker McKenzie helped.

In the pensions department, I prepared a presentation for a partner, outlining the background, legal issues and practical takeaways for defined benefit schemes. I drafted a deed of apportionment for a pension scheme, reviewed draft trustee appointment deeds prepared by another firm – adding clauses to align them with prior amendments – and cross-checked historic scheme documents for accuracy.

Which were the most enjoyable – and most challenging – aspects of the scheme?

The most challenging aspect was drafting a deed of apportionment, which is a legal document used to reallocate an employer’s liabilities within a pension scheme. Coming from a non-law background, I was firmly outside my comfort zone. However, I worked closely with my supervisor, asked plenty of questions and made full use of precedents, refining my draft through trial and error. Producing the draft felt like a breakthrough for me and showed I could rise to unfamiliar challenges in a legal setting. It was also the first time I truly saw myself belonging in a commercial law firm. That experience shifted my confidence and confirmed that this is a space where I can push myself beyond what I thought possible, continue learning and truly thrive.

The most enjoyable moment was the Baker McKenzie Affinity Group Networking Lunch. I had the opportunity to speak with partners Yindi Gesinde and Jeanette Holland, both part of the firm’s affinity groups, and they were both so open and approachable. Hearing their career journeys made me feel that I could genuinely see myself at the firm.

What key skills did you develop during the scheme? / What key skills are required to have a successful experience on the vacation scheme?

Personally, I think three skills were important to both my development on the scheme and to having a successful experience at Baker McKenzie: adaptability, intellectual curiosity and collaboration.

Adaptability was essential because the work ranged from cutting-edge AI regulation to highly technical pensions law, with little overlap between the two areas. Moving from researching cross-border cybersecurity laws to drafting a deed of apportionment required me to quickly get comfortable with unfamiliar subject matters. This meant approaching each task with an open mind, breaking down complex material into manageable steps and using precedents or team discussions to guide me. At Baker McKenzie, adaptability is critical – the firm’s international, multi-sector nature means you’re constantly shifting gears between jurisdictions, industries and legal disciplines.

Intellectual curiosity was another key skill. It wasn’t enough to simply complete the research or drafting – I wanted to understand the bigger picture: why the work mattered to the client, how it fitted into broader regulatory trends and what the commercial implications were. This curiosity led me to read beyond the brief, check multiple sources and ask targeted questions to clarify strategic context. At Baker McKenzie, this mindset is invaluable because the firm’s work is rarely siloed; legal issues often have cross-border, policy or reputational dimensions that only become clear when you dig deeper.

How did the scheme help you to understand the firm better as a business?

Through my business development work in both IP and technology, and pensions, I saw how the firm positions its expertise to win and retain client relationships. In pensions, I worked with a partner on a client-facing presentation about defined benefit schemes, breaking down legal and funding concepts into practical insights that trustees and employers could act on. This showed me how technical legal knowledge is translated into commercially valuable advice that addresses client needs directly.

Similarly, in IP and technology, I created a business development presentation for a major social media company, focusing on its AI compliance challenges and how Baker McKenzie’s intervention resolved them. The process demonstrated how the firm uses past successes to build credibility, demonstrate strategic thinking and open the door to future deals.

The scheme also highlighted the firm’s distinctive global platform. I worked on matters involving colleagues in other offices, such as collaborating with the Amsterdam team on a multi-jurisdictional update. Experiencing this firsthand brought home the idea that “the sun never sets” on a Baker McKenzie deal – when one office finishes for the day, another picks up the baton. That continuity of service is a major part of why clients trust and value the firm: they know their matters are being advanced seamlessly across time zones, without losing momentum or quality.

Looking back, what advice do you wish you’d received before starting your vacation scheme?

Leave your imposter syndrome at the door. No matter what you studied, where you’re from or how you picture a ‘typical’ City solicitor, you belong here. Before the scheme, I had a very fixed image in my mind of what a solicitor at a top international law firm looked and sounded like, and it didn’t look like me. I’m from a working-class background, a first-generation university graduate and I studied music, not law. Walking into Baker McKenzie, I half expected to feel out of place. But what I found was the opposite. My supervisor shared a background similar to mine, and throughout the scheme, I met people whose journeys into law were just as varied.

That experience left a lasting impression on me. It showed me that success at Baker McKenzie isn’t about fitting into a mould, it’s about what you bring to the table. Your perspective, your lived experience and your way of thinking are all assets here. The firm doesn’t just say it values diversity, it lives it. And that creates an environment where you can bring your whole self to work, confident that you belong.

Other than attending a vacation scheme, what’s the most relevant experience you’ve had that’s benefited your journey to becoming a lawyer?

Other than attending a vacation scheme, one of my most formative experiences has been working as a backing vocalist for major popular artists – performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading Festival, the BRIT Awards, the MTV EMAs, Capital Xtra’s Summertime Ball and more.