David Tilbury studied English Literature at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录 before going on to complete a Master's of Law with the University of Law. Since then, David has gained experience in Dispute Resolution and Litigation within a number of City law firms. He is currently a Trainee Solicitor at Hamleys of London.
David, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a second-year trainee commercial solicitor at Hamleys of London. The majority of my work concerns commercial contracts and intellectual property, but as an in-house trainee I deal with a very broad range of matters. Outside of work, I'm a huge ice-hockey fan, and I'm also starting lessons to obtain my private pilot's licence.
Why did you decide to become a mentor with THRIVE?
I had a great time at Reading University and made some really close friends, so wanted to do something to help the next generation of students have an equally-rewarding experience. This seemed like the logical way to contribute to the University's current students.
How did you start down your own career path?
Oddly I've always wanted to be a lawyer, though I'm not clear on why that's the case. My father works in insurance in the City and he often would talk to me about lawyers so perhaps it was this that led to my current career. I also enjoy being a problem-solver for a client, and this is - at its base - the purpose of a lawyer, so the career is a good fit for me. I decided to study a non-law degree (English Literature) at university and then convert to law, but being a lawyer was always the plan.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when starting out in your career?
It would be to take any opportunity afforded to you, and to remain open to practising in any area of law. It's tempting to try to decide on your preferred practice area early on, but there may be a vast difference between your expectations of a department and life in practice. I was determined to qualify as a private-practice litigator; now I'm qualifying as an in-house commercial lawyer. Having experienced both I much prefer in-house work, so remain open to any option when it comes to your career in law.
What is your style of mentoring?
I'd say I take a fairly relaxed approach - I think the legal profession can at times be cloaked in formality and seem a little impenetrable, so I hope I can act as a sounding board for mentees without them worrying about performing or asking what they think might be a silly question. Chances are we've all had the same question at one point or another.
What skills or knowledge do you value in a student who is looking for a graduate role?
Resilience and enthusiasm are key for any graduate, regardless of the industry. As a graduate in today's job market you will invariably be faced with tasks or roles that aren't as glamorous as you might have hoped; the graduates that stick with it and remain eager to learn are the ones that stand out.
What do you hope to achieve as a mentor?
I didn't set myself any specific goals, but have found that the skills developed as a mentor can really enhance one's abilities to manage and lead a team. There are lots of exceptional lawyers, but very few are also exceptional leaders, so the opportunity to build on people-management skills is invaluable.
David, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a second-year trainee commercial solicitor at Hamleys of London. The majority of my work concerns commercial contracts and intellectual property, but as an in-house trainee I deal with a very broad range of matters. Outside of work, I'm a huge ice-hockey fan, and I'm also starting lessons to obtain my private pilot's licence.
Why did you decide to become a mentor with THRIVE?
I had a great time at Reading University and made some really close friends, so wanted to do something to help the next generation of students have an equally-rewarding experience. This seemed like the logical way to contribute to the University's current students.
How did you start down your own career path?
Oddly I've always wanted to be a lawyer, though I'm not clear on why that's the case. My father works in insurance in the City and he often would talk to me about lawyers so perhaps it was this that led to my current career. I also enjoy being a problem-solver for a client, and this is - at its base - the purpose of a lawyer, so the career is a good fit for me. I decided to study a non-law degree (English Literature) at university and then convert to law, but being a lawyer was always the plan.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when starting out in your career?
It would be to take any opportunity afforded to you, and to remain open to practising in any area of law. It's tempting to try to decide on your preferred practice area early on, but there may be a vast difference between your expectations of a department and life in practice. I was determined to qualify as a private-practice litigator; now I'm qualifying as an in-house commercial lawyer. Having experienced both I much prefer in-house work, so remain open to any option when it comes to your career in law.
What is your style of mentoring?
I'd say I take a fairly relaxed approach - I think the legal profession can at times be cloaked in formality and seem a little impenetrable, so I hope I can act as a sounding board for mentees without them worrying about performing or asking what they think might be a silly question. Chances are we've all had the same question at one point or another.
What skills or knowledge do you value in a student who is looking for a graduate role?
Resilience and enthusiasm are key for any graduate, regardless of the industry. As a graduate in today's job market you will invariably be faced with tasks or roles that aren't as glamorous as you might have hoped; the graduates that stick with it and remain eager to learn are the ones that stand out.
What do you hope to achieve as a mentor?
I didn't set myself any specific goals, but have found that the skills developed as a mentor can really enhance one's abilities to manage and lead a team. There are lots of exceptional lawyers, but very few are also exceptional leaders, so the opportunity to build on people-management skills is invaluable.