Shafagh Daneshfar talks about her experience of being a Career Focus Partnership Scholar with Queen Mary and Fieldfisher.
I chose School of Law at Queen Mary University of London because of its impressive reputation and its Senior Status Programme. During my time at Queen Mary, the School of Law has provided me with many great opportunities, including the chance to grow and further my career through their Career Focus Partnership with Fieldfisher.
I found the Career Focus Partnership programme through a social media post from the School of Law. It was exactly the type of opportunity that I needed, given that I was new to the legal system in the UK, and hoped to gain experience through mentorship.
I had plenty of support both over the course of the Career Focus Partnership Scholarship and throughout my time studying at Queen Mary. Career Tutor, Christina Perry, was there to discuss the programme and encouraged me to apply to become a Career Focus Partnership Scholar. Christina remained a source of help and support through my time in the programme. Another aspect of the programme I found particularly useful was the mentorship scheme. My mentor was very friendly and supportive, helping me build my confidence and continue working on my weaknesses. She also helped me navigate the application and interview processes for the vacation scheme.I also appreciated Queen Mary’s mock interviews, a service I made use of many times. All of this, of course, has been in addition to the outstanding teaching and supervision I have received while studying at the School of Law. The legal knowledge I have gained has been beneficial throughout my time in the Career Focus Partnership, and during the subsequent internship with Fieldfisher I completed in January. Overall, the academic programme at Queen Mary has proved to be both well-structured and intellectually stimulating. Queen Mary's campus location, only a few minutes away from central London, have also made it very easy to attend events at different law firms, and take part in London’s wider legal community.
The Career Focus Partnership was enjoyable and I found the skills sessions held at Fieldfisher’s offices informative and helpful. These sessions helped me understand the legal sector, and how to apply for training contracts. The Careers Focus Partnership scholarship not only equipped me with all the necessary skills to practice law but also helped me achieve my goal of securing a training contract at Fieldfisher. The scholarship has also connected me with respected practicing lawyers. I look forward to helping others that hope to take part in the programme next year.
European law firm, Fieldfisher, and the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London are working in partnership to bring an excellent career development opportunity to 15 – 20 second year LLB students from ethnicities which are currently underrepresented in law. The successful applicants will become Career Focus Partnership Scholars and will attend four skills sessions at Fieldfisher’s Central London offices before being invited to interview for possible internship positions.