Hot 100 career quiz: “I performed a full surgical procedure on a cadaver”

What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee?

My first morning, arriving at Baker McKenzie’s offices wearing a new suit and carrying an empty briefcase. I didn’t have the advantage of completing a vacation placement or attending any open days, and it had been three years since my training contract interview, so I had no idea what I was walking into. I remember the nervous energy in the room as I met the other trainees in my intake, and gradually relaxing as I got to know them.

We were a small intake of six, and four of us are still close and meet up regularly even though we have all gone our separate ways professionally.

What is the thing in your professional career that has terrified you or taken you out of your comfort zone the most?

About seven years ago I was introduced to a new client (a manufacturer of surgical equipment) via a referral. A few weeks into the relationship, I was asked to fly over the US for a summit which the client held annually at its HQ for all of their external counsel.

Day one involved drinks on a yacht and getting to know the other lawyers who came from all over the US and across the globe. So far so good.

Day two involved being handed surgical scrubs and being invited into the cadaver lab in groups and asked by the lead surgeon which one of us wanted to take the scalpel and make the first incision.

I can honestly say that this was the furthest out of my comfort zone I have ever been in my professional life.  Under the supervision of the surgeon, we performed a full surgical procedure on a cadaver so we could understand how the particular products worked and had the ability to change lives. I found the experience quite terrifying and I almost passed out at one point (which I tried to blame on the jet lag). However by the end of the procedure I had new found respect for the work of medical professionals and also an intimate understanding of my client’s business. It was “getting to know your client” on a whole new level!

What is the wisest thing anyone ever said to you (and who said it)?

In professional terms it was advice from a senior associate in the real estate team during my first trainee seat to “find your niche”. The context here was that I did not become a solicitor with any particular practice area in mind. Like most trainees, I wanted to find an area of law I would enjoy practicing for an entire career, a team I liked being a part of, and good work/life balance, but I entered my training contact with no idea about which department or team could provide this. The associate told me to relax and assured me that I would find the right fit given time.

Luckily for me I found my niche in the employment department, and particularly when it comes to litigation.  More than 20 years on I still enjoy the client work which I do as part of my everyday practice, and which I have managed to maintain alongside taking on management responsibilities.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get to where you are/do the job you do?

Not to be afraid to address the elephant in the room. In my view, to take on a leadership role and to be respected you need to be prepared to identify and address the challenges in front of you head on, and not be afraid to raise these for discussion even if the subject matter is uncomfortable.

What’s your best friend from law school doing now?

Last time I checked he was practicing as a barrister working on criminal and human rights cases, so quite a different career path from my own! Looking back, we always had different interests when picking modules for our degree so I am not surprised that we ended up going down different paths.