Lookman Rawat

I joined the firm as a paralegal in 1999 and worked in the Product Liability team for 18 months. I subsequently spent 10 years in an IT support role.

I qualified into the Product Liability/Product Safety litigation team in March 2014 and have experience working for a number of product manufacturers both in a litigious context and from a safety standpoint.

I went to school and college in Hackney, London and was the first in my family to attend university. My family has been extremely supportive and my parents helped me to get through Law School. Securing a training contract after such a long wait came as something of a surprise but was also an exciting opportunity to start a new chapter in my life. Qualifying as a trainee solicitor was the culmination of many years of hard work. It is fair to say that my route to qualification has been a bit of a bumpy ride but it goes to show that opportunities are available for a wide variety of candidates, in a non-traditional way.

A sense of team spirit and a collegiate environment makes Hogan Lovells a great place to work. Relationships are neither purely functional nor superficial, but genuine. This resonates throughout the firm at every level, no matter how senior or junior you may be.

What sets Hogan Lovells apart from other law firms is its genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion. I am a member of the steering committee for the firm's multicultural network which forms part of its global initiative relating to diversity and inclusion.

For anyone looking to pursue a career in law, remember that the application process is a platform to showcase your talents. Use it positively and do not be afraid to be yourself! There is a growing emphasis on recruiting candidates that are a good fit for the firm and to look beyond the CV, so feel confident enough to present the "real me" throughout the process. Finally, remember that the people considering your application are only human and at some point they were in your shoes!