Does a Master’s Degree Improve Your Career Prospects?
As part of Platforum9’s Legal Career Week, this session explored whether a master’s degree truly enhances career prospects in law, focusing on its strategic value in an increasingly global profession. Rohit Bhatachaarya, a qualified lawyer from India, shared his journey from early legal roles to pursuing an LLM in International Economic Law at Warwick, highlighting […]
SQE Smart: Preparing for the SQE and Legal Interviews
Legal Career Week 2026 brought together leading voices from across the profession, including Robert Dudley, Head of Employability and Engagement at Barbri, for a focused session on the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Drawing on over two decades of experience in legal education and training, Dudley shared practical, experience-led insights into the SQE’s structure, its challenges, […]
The Legal CV Blueprint & Cover Letters that Convert
This session featured Ross MacGregor, interview and application strategist and former lawyer at Linklaters and Akin Gump. MacGregor shared practical, experience-driven insights on how candidates can strengthen legal CVs and cover letters to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Reframing the CV: From Checklist to Sales Pitch MacGregor challenged the common misconception that a […]
Early Careers – The Mishcon Perspective
This session explored the evolving landscape of early legal careers through the lens of Mishcon de Reya LLP, with insights from Tom Wicksteed, Academy Manager, who leads early careers at the firm. The discussion covered recruitment trends, the growing role of AI, what differentiates candidates, and how training contracts are structured and delivered in practice. […]
From Application to Offer: How to Win a Training Contract
Last Monday’s legal career week session featured Nikola Bjelobaba, who shared a clear, experience-driven roadmap for securing a training contract, from early university decisions through to final offers. Early Foundations: First Year Matters More Than You Think Bjelobaba emphasised that, contrary to common academic advice, the first year is pivotal. While grades may not count […]
Introducing the Legal Business Analyst
In opening this session of Legal Career Week, moderated by Toby Henley, a Legal Business Analyst at Perkins Coie, the panel examined the rise of the Legal Business Analyst (LBA) role in response to a rapidly evolving legal landscape. As AI adoption accelerates and clients demand greater efficiency, law firms are rethinking how they train […]
Investment Arbitration’s Tightrope
Yesterday’s International Arbitration Forum session examined the evolving role of arbitrators in investment arbitration, framed around the arguments presented by Paolo Vargiu of the University of Leicester in his recent monograph. The discussion focused on whether arbitrators are responsible for the perceived legitimacy crisis in investment arbitration, and, crucially, whether they have the authority to […]
Managing Borders On Autopilot: Showcasing A Vertical AI For Global Immigration
In Monday’s Legal Innovation Club Session, Moderator Julia Klingberg introduced Tathagata Baya, Founder of Settle, and explored how vertical AI is reshaping global immigration and compliance, moving beyond visa automation to address deeper structural inefficiencies in cross-border talent mobility Baya traced his journey from finance to startup operator and ultimately founder, driven by a desire […]
How Your Firm Can Support Your Personal Brand
David Rapalski, a Business Development and Marketing Manager at Baker McKenzie, led a focused discussion on how law firms can meaningfully support lawyers in building strong personal brands, an increasingly vital capability in today’s digital, AI-driven landscape. Drawing on nearly a decade of experience in legal marketing and business development, Rapalski offered a practical and […]
How to Achieve Your Best Rankings Yet
Last Thursday’s live session, moderated by Dmytro Fedoruk, founder of Ranking Copilot, explored how law firms and lawyers can improve their ranking performance. Fedoruk emphasised that rankings remain central to client decision-making, particularly for general counsel handling complex or cross-border matters, as they provide both validation and risk mitigation. The discussion was further supported by […]