Welcome to the sixteenth blog post for The Lawyer Files!
First off, thank you for subscribing and following the journeys of tomorrow’s legal leaders. Each edition brings you real stories, sharp insights, and thoughtful reflections from aspiring solicitors carving their own path into the legal world.
✨ In this edition, we feature Seyi Erinle, a future trainee solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills, whose journey reflects intellectual curiosity, cross-cultural confidence, and a remarkable transition from criminal law to corporate practice. What began as a fascination with criminal psychology videos on YouTube evolved into a passion for commercial law — shaped by ambition, mentorship, and the opportunities he seized at the University of Sheffield.
Seyi’s interest in law first took root in criminology, but it was his exposure to commercial law through events, open days, and mentorships that set him on a new course. His time at Sheffield not only sharpened his academic mindset but also introduced him to the world of City law through initiatives like Aspiring Solicitors and firm-run insight evenings. It was at one of those events that he first discovered HSF — the very firm where he’ll now begin his legal career.
What sets Seyi apart is his balance of discipline and adaptability. Whether diving headfirst into unfamiliar legal seats on his vacation scheme, advocating for inclusion as the founding Vice President of Sheffield’s BAME Law Society, or developing his global perspective through international programs and language learning, he approaches each chapter with focus and growth in mind.
His reflections on time management, communication, and the evolving role of AI in legal work reveal a future solicitor who is not only prepared for the profession — but eager to shape it. And for anyone doubting their place in commercial law, Seyi’s story offers both honesty and encouragement: keep your standards high, and never let fear decide your next move.
Let’s dive in 🚀
- What inspired you to study Law and Criminology, and how has your time at the University of Sheffield shaped your aspirations?
For a few years, I have been fascinated with criminal psychology videos on YouTube, in which the narrator analyses the interrogation footage of someone who has committed a heinous crime, intercutting the interrogation footage with the relevant laws and explanations of motivating factors behind the crime. With this being a pastime interest, as someone who at the time took an interest in criminal law, I thought it was only right that I pursue a degree in Law and Criminology.
My time at The University of Sheffield has had a massive impact on my aspirations. The university has offered me invaluable networking opportunities for me to discover my desire to be a commercial solicitor. For example, I attended an HSF insight evening at my university, which introduced me to the firm and allowed me to apply for their University of Sheffield open day. I also networked with other firms, including HSF at a higher achiever’s event, during which I was told about Aspiring Solicitors’ mentorship scheme, which encouraged me to apply for it. All these experiences have been instrumental in my journey to learning about commercial law, developing an interest in it and eventually securing a training contract, by giving me invaluable information and expanding my network.
- Can you tell us more about your experience during the Vacation Scheme at HSF and the insights you gained from working in Insurance Disputes and Corporate Energy?
The vacation scheme was intense and took a lot of hard work and determination, but it was incredibly immersive and very rewarding. Insurance disputes mostly involved reading judgements on the ongoing case and writing letters of advice for my supervisor, regarding what would happen if the defendant went insolvent during this dispute. I was incredibly lucky to join the team at a point where the case was progressing very quickly. I went into the seat having practically no knowledge of insurance disputes, so it was all very new to me and I found it to be a very technical area of law.
In Corporate Energy I had more responsibility, and I think I enjoyed this the most. Since it heavily involved mergers and acquisitions, it is an area of law I was more familiar with, having studied public company law and commercial law at university. Whilst this allowed me to understand it more quickly than I could in insurance disputes, I still learned a lot. Not only did I write several letters of advice, I drafted a contract and sit in on several meetings with clients, counsel and other solicitors. Again, I was lucky enough to join the team right towards the back end of the deal, when the deal was very close to being complete, so everything was progressing very quickly and there was never a dull moment.
Perhaps the key takeaway for me across the entire vacation scheme was how key time management and communication is as a trainee solicitor. If those two fundamentals are not mastered, then it will make things more difficult for you and everyone else in the team.
- You recently shared a post about the first AI-only law firm being approved by the SRA, what are your thoughts on the future of AI in the legal profession?
Personally, I see AI as an incredibly valuable tool in the legal profession which we have already seen being rolled out on a large scale across most city law firms. Even during my vac scheme Copilot was a useful tool that I used on a regular basis to assist me. AI makes work that would take hours work that takes minutes; this is seen when extracting several relevant files from a large data pool during due diligence. I certainly feel that AI will continue to develop across the legal profession to be of even further assistance to lawyers. However, assistance is the key word for me. I personally do not feel that AI should be used to substitute lawyers, as cool as it may sound. The use of AI in the legal profession has been found to produce inaccuracies or even falsify judgements when used for the wrong purposes, and with it still being relatively new I was surprised to find that the SRA approved the first AI law firm. But who knows what the future holds?
- You’ve completed international programs and developed strong communication skills, what drives your passion for continuous learning and cross-cultural experiences?
I think much of my motivation for continuous learning comes from how I was raised. From a young age I was encouraged to achieve academic excellence, and this became prevalent during year 5 and year 6 when I prepared for 11+ exams to enter secondary school. Certainly, much of my motivation to develop my skillset and work hard was instilled by my mum. In first-year, I strived to develop my communication skills by engaging in several mooting competitions and going on to complete a communications course in The Netherlands the following summer.
I feel like my drive for developing cross-cultural experience is something that comes naturally to me. Coming from a Nigerian family, I have always been exposed to both British and Nigerian cultures and this may have had an influence on me. For a long time, I have been interested in gaining international experiences, whether it be through going abroad or studying another language. Over the next year, I will take up French lessons, and I hope to build on my proficiency in the language to become fluent before starting my training contract. This is just one example of how important I feel it is to appreciate and experience a wider range of cultures than my own.
- What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received so far, and how has it influenced your journey?
Perhaps the best piece of advice I’ve been given is to never lower my aspirations simply because I’ve faced difficulty achieving them. After my first application cycle, I had submitted around 10 applications and received 10 rejections at the application stage. I felt that maybe the calibre of law firms I was applying for was too high and that I should diversify my range of firms to have a higher chance of being successful. I remember telling an HSF trainee this at a networking event and she told me that, that is the last thing I should do, and that I should maintain my high standards and work to improve my skills so I can reach those aspirations. That’s exactly what I did. The end result was securing a training contract with HSF Kramer, a top 20 global law firm. It still feels quite surreal to me. So the moral of the story is shoot for the stars; even if you don’t reach the stars you might land on the moon!
Seyi Erinle – https://www.linkedin.com/in/seyi-erinle-b98243235/
Future Trainee Solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Thank you for reading the sixteenth edition of The Lawyer Files!
I hope Seyi’s journey has encouraged you — especially if you’re exploring the transition from one area of law to another, navigating early rejections, or working to build confidence in commercial spaces. His story is a powerful reminder that curiosity, consistency, and belief in your potential can take you further than you think.
Whether it’s drawing career inspiration from YouTube interrogation analysis, taking on high-responsibility tasks during a vacation scheme, or embracing cross-cultural experiences with purpose, Seyi shows us that there’s no one route into law — only the one you’re willing to pursue with focus and self-belief.
🎧 Stay tuned — our podcast episode with Seyi is coming soon, where we’ll dive deeper into his journey from criminology enthusiast to future trainee at Herbert Smith Freehills, how he navigated rejection with resilience, and why staying true to your standards matters more than ever in commercial law.
We’ll also talk about shifting from criminal law to corporate law, working in fast-paced vacation scheme seats, and how cultural confidence and international exposure have shaped his growth.
Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Until next time — stay focused, stay ambitious, and never let fear decide your next move. 💼🌍✨
— Denice Obeng 🙂
