Welcome to the seventeenth 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, practical insight, and honest reflections from aspiring solicitors carving their unique paths into the profession.
✨ In this edition, we feature Nicole Wereko, a Future Trainee Solicitor at Clyde & Co, whose journey blends professionalism, proactivity, and a deep understanding of service — both within and beyond the legal world. From hospitality to high-stakes legal internships, Nicole’s route into commercial law is marked by confidence, curiosity, and continuous self-development.
Nicole’s early exposure to law came through vacation schemes and internships at Clyde & Co, where she quickly realised how vital every part of the business is — from legal tech and risk teams to business development and early careers. But it was her work outside of formal legal spaces that sharpened her skillset — serving as a Student Ambassador, Residential Life Connector, and ACS Welfare Officer, where she learned how to communicate clearly, lead with empathy, and simplify challenges for others.
What sets Nicole apart is her instinct for service. Whether adapting to different audiences on campus, building bridges between students and wellbeing support, or making tasks easier for associates during legal placements, she consistently brings a mindset of “How can I add value here?”
Her reflections on confidence, wellbeing, and learning through experience offer more than just career advice — they show what it means to grow with intention, serve with humility, and pursue law not just as a profession, but as a practice of purpose.
Let’s dive in 🚀
- Most valuable lessons learnt from my internship and Vacation Scheme at Clyde & Co
One of the biggest lessons I took from my internship was understanding the extent to which law firms operate as businesses. Like any large organisation, firms consist of various departments such as costs, early careers, and recruitment, but my internship really highlighted how integral these functions are to the firm’s ongoing success. It was eye-opening to see how departments like business development, risk, legal tech, and resources all work together to support the firm’s legal output.
Another key takeaway was the importance of confidence and proactivity. In fast-paced environments like these, being willing to step forward, ask questions, and make yourself visible really does make a difference, not just in what you learn, but in how you’re remembered.
Finally, I realised that at this stage, everything is a learning experience. Absolutely everything. The exposure I gained during both my internship and vacation scheme was genuinely invaluable. Whether it was a passing conversation with someone new, learning about their career journey, or attending sessions on specific practice areas, every moment helped me better understand both Clyde & Co and the legal industry more broadly. Piecing it all together bit by bit gave me a clearer picture of the profession I’m stepping into.
- How has working as a student ambassador and RLC influenced your personal development
I learned the importance and intricacies of providing a service and understanding my audience, then working backwards from their needs. This is an approach that applies directly to life as a future trainee and, eventually, as an associate. You always want to make life easier for the lawyers you’re working alongside, and proactivity is a key part of that. It’s about putting yourself in the shoes of the associate you’re supporting and asking, “How can I simplify this task for them?” The same principle applies when working with clients — how can you make their experience smoother and more efficient?
I also had to become serious about communicating clearly and adapting my communication style to suit different audiences, from primary school students to post-16 learners. Initially, this felt daunting, but with practice came confidence. Being able to connect with such a wide range of people has become one of my most transferable and valuable skills.
- What did my role as ACS Welfare officer entail and why was it important to me?
My co-welfare officer and I were responsible for managing both the internal needs of the committee and the external needs of the student body. This involved conducting regular reviews, promoting wellbeing alongside academic success, and coordinating events with a wellbeing focus.
I’m deeply passionate about wellbeing and mental health because I believe everything flows from the mind. When your mental state is compromised, it becomes difficult to show up effectively in any other area — whether academically, professionally, socially, or personally.
It can be daunting for students to approach staff or official support departments directly. By cultivating a space where students can open up to fellow students first, and then be signposted to the appropriate support services, we were able to help bridge that gap and make wellbeing support feel more accessible.
- Your career path shows a clear transition from hospitality into law. How did your earlier work experience prepare you for your legal career?
Working in hospitality provided some really valuable experience in learning how to be adaptable, flexible, and maintain control in high pressure environments. It taught me how to stay composed while managing competing demands, a skill that translates well into the fast paced nature of legal work.
The hospitality industry, much like the legal industry, relies on the cooperation of many different professionals. Everyone plays a crucial role in achieving the end goal, which makes building strong relationships especially important. That early experience helped me understand the value of teamwork and communication, both of which are essential in any legal setting.
- To remain motivated and manage my time across the academic, professional and leadership roles I ….
Consistently remind myself of what it is that I am working towards and approach every area with a willingness to learn as much as I can. Keeping my long-term goals in mind helps me stay focused and motivated.
I stay organised using planning systems and diaries, and I make sure to communicate if I need support in any area. Being clear about my capacity has helped me manage multiple responsibilities more effectively.
I also try to remember that experience in one area can support progress in another. For example, some of the insights I gained during my vacation scheme directly helped me understand modules at university. Everything is connected, and I try to make the most of those overlaps.
Nicole Wereko – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-wereko-81b8b9135/
Future Trainee Solicitor at Clyde & Co | LLB Law student at the University of Sussex
Thank you for reading the seventeenth edition of The Lawyer Files.
I hope Nicole’s journey has encouraged you, especially if you’re navigating internships, growing your confidence in professional settings, or figuring out how to add value as a future trainee. Her story is a reminder that insight, proactivity, and a service-oriented mindset can set you apart as you step into the legal world.
Whether it’s learning how law firms function as full scale businesses, adapting communication styles to serve different audiences, or advocating for student wellbeing with empathy and clarity, Nicole shows us that becoming a great lawyer starts long before the training contract. It starts with how you show up, learn, and lead every day.
🎧 Stay tuned. Our podcast episode with Nicole is coming soon, where we’ll dive deeper into her journey from student leadership and hospitality to future trainee at Clyde & Co, how she built confidence through proactivity, and why understanding law firms as businesses gave her a whole new perspective on legal practice.
We’ll also explore what it means to lead with empathy, how communication skills shaped through campus roles can transfer into legal settings, and the mindset she’s carrying into her training contract.
Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it.
Until next time, stay curious, stay intentional, and show up with purpose. 💼📚✨
— Denice Obeng 🙂
