Alumni-led Q&A session is a runaway success!

We were delighted to welcome a former student back to his old college for a Q&A panel session with law students.

Our students quizzed a panel of lawyers, from international law firm Freshfields, on everything from the perks of a career in law to the qualifications needed to be successful.

The session was organised by lawyer and former student Sayo Ogundele, who was keen to give something back to the College.

“I have fond memories of my time at Christ the King so I was more than happy to go back and help the College as a former student,” he told us.

“The main benefit to students was that they could ask questions directly to qualified lawyers in a relaxed environment. I never had the opportunity to do so when I was in college and I wish I did.”

Sayo graduated from Christ the King in 2006, having studied A-Levels in English, History, Business Studies and Law (getting As in all four). He went on to study Law at London School of Economics before joining Freshfields as a trainee solicitor in 2010.

Four years later and Soya is an associate in the Freshfields corporate department, but it’s not been an easy road to success.

As someone from an ethnic minority and a disadvantaged background, Sayo didn’t have some of the opportunities that others had.

“The motivation behind setting up the session was to try and help students who come from these two groups. It’s a particular passion of mine as I fit in both of these groups and I want to help others who have the same aspirations as I did,” he said.

The session provided a rare opportunity for students to find out first-hand what it’s like to work in law, from those who have actually experienced it. This, Sayo says, is not something that happens enough.

He said: “I think it’s hard to provide advice to a student who wishes to join a particular profession if you do not have first-hand experience of what it’s like to work in such professions. This is what I believe to be one of the main reasons why there is a lack of social mobility, especially in professions perceived from the outside to be ‘elite’.”

The session was a huge success, giving our students an invaluable insight into a career in law and giving Sayo and his colleagues the chance to shape the lawyers of tomorrow.

Karolina Zarzycka, one of the students in attendance, said: “My mind was already set on studying law and the Freshfields event encouraged me to be more ambitious about the subject. The event was excellent and very useful in my career planning”. 

It’s something he plans to hold again in the future, but we’d love students in other subject areas to be able to gain the same insights. If you can share your knowledge and expertise in your field with our students, and help shape their futures, get in touch here.