Law is demanding and can be stressful at times – but its fast pace ensures it’s never dull, making it an intellectually stimulating and deeply rewarding career.

Alumna Caroline Barber (Jarrett, DH 1989) is a solicitor specialising in the arts and third sector. She currently works at The National Lottery Community Fund as their Senior Solicitor, supporting organisations that deliver social and cultural impact across the UK. Previously, she was General Counsel at The Old Vic, and Legal Affairs Manager for the London-based theatrical production company Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. Earlier in her career, she was a Senior Associate at Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and a Solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard. As a trustee of two arts organisations, the Watermill Theatre and Book Music & Lyrics, Caroline draws on her legal expertise and passion for the arts to support the theatre in continuing to thrive both creatively and commercially.

Alumna Lauren Brolly (DH 2016) graduated with a BA in Geography from University of Exeter. She went on to study for her PGDL and LPC at BPP and then spent eight months working as a paralegal at Russells. After completing her training contract at Sinclair Gibson LLP, she qualified into their family department as an Associate in September 2025.

Parent Emma Sumner is a Barrister practising from 1 Hare Court in London. Since being called to the bar in 1999, she has risen to the top tiers of the private matrimonial finance bar. Her cases often include corporate, trust and international elements and she regularly appears on behalf of high-net-worth individuals who are involved in the areas of finance, law, sport and business. As Legal 500 said this year: “Emma is now one of the leading juniors at the financial bar and it cannot be long before she deservedly takes silk. Emma is diligent in her preparation, kind to and engaged with her clients and a forceful and persuasive advocate; this is why she is one of the very best.” 

Routes into the profession  

Caroline remembered completing a test at school that recommended a career in law, but it wasn’t initially appealing. Instead, she explored a variety of different jobs after university. But in her mid-20s, while sharing a house with other lawyers, the decision to join the profession finally clicked.

Lauren’s inspiration came much earlier. Aged 12, on a ‘take your daughter to work day’, her father introduced her to the in-house lawyer. Amongst other things, Lauren was delighted by her remarkable stationery collection, and from then on she knew this was the career for her.

Coming from a family of barristers, including being the daughter and granddaughter of judges, the profession felt like a natural choice for Emma. She was called to the bar in 1999, entering what was then a very male-dominated environment, and became the fourth woman in her Chambers. She was also the first woman in her family to become a barrister.

Today, she reflects on how much the profession has changed, describing it as “unrecognisable” compared to when she first began, “It’s a fantastic place for men and women – particularly women.” The autonomy of life as a barrister is particularly well-suited to creating a balanced family life. As a self-employed professional in control of her own workload, this flexibility is a major benefit – one that is often under-recognised. It has allowed her to create a distinctive work-life balance, which has included taking extended time off during the school holidays to spend time with her family.

A day in the life

Lauren works in family law and describes her role as a mix between lawyer and therapist. No two cases are ever the same, reflecting the distinct circumstances and individuals involved. Her days involve client meetings, preparing court documents and handling often emotionally charged cases, particularly those involving children. The needs of her clients and the demands of court schedules mean it’s not a nine-to-five job, but the variety keeps it interesting.

Working in-house, Caroline describes her role as being akin to a GP: handling everything from quick fixes to much more complex issues that might take months to diagnose and resolve. This variety, combined with the opportunity to work on meaningful projects at The National Lottery, alongside exceptional people who are building bridges across different sectors of society, is something she finds particularly rewarding.

Emma specialises in matrimonial finance, an area she enjoys for the intellectual challenge involved in navigating complex trusts and bonus structures, coupled with its discretionary nature and the resulting need for clear, persuasive advocacy. She guides clients on the legal and financial implications of their decisions and predicts how a judge is likely to rule if a settlement isn’t reached. She will also negotiate on the client’s behalf, requiring both legal expertise and strong interpersonal skills.

Lauren is always struck by barristers’ ability to take in information that might have taken her a year to prepare, and present it eloquently and persuasively, in a matter of minutes. By contrast, her work as a solicitor requires a different set of skills: meticulous preparation and careful analysis to form the foundation of every successful case.

Barrister or solicitor: Finding the right fit

Caroline opted to become a solicitor, partly due to a fear of public speaking when she was younger – although she has since developed this skill, becoming more at ease in front of an audience as her confidence grew and she became less concerned about what others think. But she also knew she ultimately wanted to work as an in-house counsel, so becoming a solicitor was the right route for her.

Lauren chose to become a solicitor because she enjoys building long-term relationships with clients and values the deeper client connection her role allows. Getting to know her clients in all their complexity is a central part of what she finds so fulfilling.

Emma champions life at the bar. While it can be uncertain and lacks some of the benefits of traditional employment, such as a pension, she values the independence it offers and the control she has over her schedule. She also relishes the unique demands of the role: rapidly absorbing complex information and presenting it persuasively in court.

That said, she is clear that it’s not for everyone. The pressure can be intense; when so much rests on your shoulders, there’s little room for an off day in court. But for the right person, it is uniquely rewarding, giving you the chance to make an immediate and tangible difference in someone’s life.

The skills that matter – and the mindset to match

To succeed in the legal profession, certain qualities are prerequisites: resilience, diligence, persuasiveness, critical thinking and a strong work ethic. Above all, good communication and people skills are essential – the ability to connect with others, build trust and convey ideas are fundamental.

Emma emphasises preparation is “80% of the job.” As a barrister, if you could have known the case better, and you fail to give the answer you should have when the judge asks, “it’s on you.”

Emma also points to the pressure of court work. A solicitor might spend months or years preparing a case, but a barrister will have just days, sometimes hours to prepare. In one memorable case, a technical failure wiped all her notes just before a hearing. Undeterred, she secured extra time from the judge, reconstructed her argument in an hour, and ultimately won on every point – demonstrating the resilience and composure required in high-pressure situations.

For Lauren, building resilience helps deal with the emotional weight of family cases, especially those involving children. She also points out that rejection is part of the journey, particularly when applying for highly competitive training contracts. In her early 20s, she had rarely experienced failure – she’d worked hard, achieved great results and went to the university of her choice – so facing rejection was tough. But those experiences strengthened her resilience, and she now sees setbacks as opportunities for growth.

She also advises whatever you’re doing, throw yourself into it. Even if it’s not where you see yourself long-term, you’ll gain valuable skills, make important connections and often discover unexpected interests along the way.

Caroline emphasised the importance of learning to trust your instincts. Early in her career, she relied on diligent preparation and a highly methodical approach, but she now recognises the value of gut instinct, and the insight that comes from stepping back and reflecting on a problem.

How to stand out at interview

Our panel shared their view that experience matters, whether legal or not – employers value well-rounded CVs. You can of course apply for an internship, a scholarship at one of the Inns of Court or a Mini-Pupillage, but anything that shows initiative is useful, such as writing for a journal or winning an essay prize, or indeed just being a runner up.

Lauren did a ski season when she was 18, which meant she was able to talk with ease about dealing with difficult guests, experience that proved invaluable at interview. Practical roles like this can be just as useful as formal internships. Even waitressing, administrative or voluntary work can provide strong examples for competency-based questions.

Emma emphasised the ability to put your point across persuasively counts as much as expertise in law. At interview, she focuses on how well candidates communicate – are they articulate and convincing, would a client trust them? People skills and charm really matter – it’s about being excellent at what you do, while also being approachable and easy to work with.

She also highlighted improvements in diversity at the bar, including blind recruitment processes and a points-based system that rewards experience and initiative – “The bar has come forward 100 years in the last 25.”

The impact of AI

The good news is, although AI is being used in the legal profession, it isn’t set to replace the role of the lawyer.

AI is removing some entry-level tasks and taking over administrative work once done by legal secretaries. But Emma finds it hard at present to foreseeably imagine technology replicating the essentially human nature of courtroom advocacy.

For Lauren, the key is understanding both the capabilities, as well as the limitations of AI. Clients sometimes arrive with AI-generated legal documents – essentially DIY legal solutions. She must both demonstrate the value of her expertise and carefully unravel these ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions, crafting documents that are legally sound and tailored to the client’s specific needs.

Part of what makes legal work so compelling for our panel is its human dimension. There is a constant variety of people to engage with, alongside the subtle psychology involved in understanding clients, reading judges and shaping persuasive arguments that land.

The appeal of a career in law

Emma summed up the appeal of the profession through the eyes of a junior barrister in her Chambers. In contrast to some careers, her colleague relishes taking ownership of her cases and being solely responsible for representing her clients. Reflecting on a case in court the following day, her junior colleague noted “I am running my own case at the age of 26.”