Case study: ‘My training gave me the tools I need to be successful’

Simay Osman, Legal graduate

Simay Osman recently started a two-year training contract as an in-house solicitor at BPP Law School

“I went to Queen Mary’s, which is part of the University of London, and finished my law degree in 2009. I then took two years out. I worked for a year as a legal and commercial co-ordinator for a company, and then I spent a year doing a mixture of things – some charitable work, some legal internships, and some work in retail as well. I was certain that I wanted to become a solicitor, and the exposure to different legal environments helped me decide on the type I want to be. It’s a very diverse and varied role.

In 2011, I started my Legal Practice Course (LPC) at BPP Law School. A solicitor’s day-to-day work is quite commercial, so an LPC is a lot more practical than a law degree, which is quite theoretical and academic. The LPC is also very intense, with exams every month. I enjoyed it even more than my degree, because I felt I was being given the tools I need to be successful in my future career.

After your LPC, the final step before you become a qualified solicitor is a twoyear training contract. In-house trainee positions don’t come up very often, so I was lucky to have the opportunity to get my current position at BPP Law School.

Becoming a solicitor is competitive. You need a good academic record, but it’s more than that. My best piece of advice is to just be yourself. A lot of students feel they have to fit into a certain mould. I think being genuine gets you further.

Becoming a solicitor is a long process, but it’s worth investing the time and money, because I’ll be using these skills for the rest of my career.”