Peter Wozny LLB Hons, 2009

Training contract with the US firm Brown Rudnick LLP, in their London office

Hi, I'm Peter Wozny and I studied LLB Hons within Southampton Law School at the University of Southampton.

Use your initiative and think outside the box

During my Law LLB at Southampton University I was unable to acquire a vacation scheme or training contract. Despite my good grades, I lacked legal experience in this competitive environment. I therefore thought bold and looked internationally. By sending numerous letters to Chinese firms, I managed to secure myself two summer placements in Shanghai. When I returned for my final year at university, I was then able to work as a part time paralegal in a local Southampton law firm whilst preparing for my finals.

After graduating in 2009 with a 2.1, but still without a training contract, I decided to move onto the LPC and fund it myself. I successfully completed the LPC and landed myself a paralegal role in the London office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer LLP. After a few months of working on some large international deals, the senior English Law partner of the Moscow office saw my talent and transferred me to his office in autumn 2010.

For two and a half years I worked in Freshfield’s Moscow office in a permanent position replacing the London trainees that got sent to the office on secondment. Working hard, I impressed my colleagues, my responsibilities grew and my knowledge expanded. I was offered numerous opportunities being sent on business trips across Europe and from Beijing to New York. Finally, after two successful years, I landed myself a training contract.

This September in 2013, I will commence my training contract with the US firm Brown Rudnick LLP, in their London office. It shows that despite this financial crisis and backlog of law graduates searching for a training contract, if you think outside the box and make yourself unique, you will stand out from the others and have a successful career.