Alumni working outside the UK

Cavan Reiley, White & Case LLP Beijing (Law LLB, 2006-2009)

When I was at Leicester, the course was engaging and the lecturers passionate. The law itself was well-taught and there was never a problem seeking support from the tutors. The particularity of the French law and language aspect to the course was what made my course at Leicester even more interesting. I can’t speak more highly of the French law tutors at Leicester who continue to drive the course and make it one of the most attractive of its kind in the UK. The best part of the course was the ability to study at a French university. I spent one of the best years of my life in Strasbourg. 

Leicester, however, is about so much more than the degree. Despite the great academic base that Leicester provides, it is the social life and atmosphere among the students which made my time at university so enjoyable. Not being as large as some of the other universities with which Leicester competes academically means that Leicester breeds a real feeling of community among its student body. 

What I believe made me stand out as a candidate when applying for jobs was not only my results, but the fact that I was able to compete in debating and mooting competitions, be a part of various societies (ski and snowboard, tennis and rugby, to name a few) and have a role in student politics (I was on student council in my final year). It is these aspects which helped shape me as an individual and have provided me with some of my closest friends.

When I graduated I already had a job lined up at White & Case LLP. During the summer of my penultimate year at university I applied for a variety of work placement schemes among a handful of law firms. I undertook the three schemes for which I received offers: DLA Piper, Herbert Smith and White & Case. Following graduation I attended the College of Law, Guildford, where I had a great year and even organised the College ski trip, utilising the knowledge I gained from being on Leicester's Ski and Snowboard Club committee in my second year.

Currently I am doing bank finance in Beijing for 6 months, and in my next seat I will be doing asset finance in Tokyo for 6 months. The opportunity to work and live in China and Japan, which ordinarily I may never have had the opportunity to visit, is incredible. I feel very lucky and without a doubt the platform that Leicester provided for me was fundamental in giving me, and preparing me for, this opportunity. It's never certain the direction your future will take, but Leicester has provided me with a key stepping stone along the path to it.

Ahmed Butt (Law LLB, 1999)

I chose to study law as I had identified my natural strengths in the humanities, essay writing and debating, all of which form key elements of legal studies. I chose Leicester based on its consistent top 10 law school ranking, but I had also identified Leicester Law School's relationships with major law firms as an ideal platform for my intended career as an international corporate or finance lawyer.

I have fond memories of the Law School. My tutors and professors were all well-known experts in their fields, yet very approachable - that made it a prestigious but very collegiate environment to study in. The Law School's library is second-to-none and the Law Society's extra-curricular activities provided a social outlet as well as opportunities to network with potential employers.

The Law School's career guidance and support, as well as its relationships with major law firms, were key in helping me to secure my career well before the completion of my LLB. In my second year, following six internships at international law firms, a mini-pupillage in England's largest barristers' chambers and a tax internship at one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, I was selected for a scholarship to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a training contract with a major law firm.

I qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and have worked at international law firms in London and Dubai as a banking and finance lawyer. I currently live and work in Dubai as a specialist in the niche area of Islamic finance with a prestigious global law firm. I have authored articles and participated in international conferences as an expert on legal issues relating to Islamic finance.

Andrew Kidd, Legal Director at Specsavers (Law LLB, 1987-1990)

I chose to study law basically because it seemed a good degree to do. At school I had wanted to be a journalist, but a legal career seemed a potentially better way of upholding the truth! Leicester appealed to me as a university as it was mainly campus-based, was close to the city centre and had a good reputation for law (and it took General Studies as one of your A-levels).

After graduating with a 2:1 degree, including being awarded the Company Law prize, I attended the College of Law at Chester and passed the Solicitors' Final Examination (with first class honours) in 1991. I immediately joined Hepworth & Chadwick (now Eversheds) in Leeds and completed my articles in 1993, qualifying as a solicitor in Eversheds' company/commercial department at the end of that year. 

After two years PQE, I joined Truman Bodden & Co (now Higgs & Johnson) in the Cayman Islands and was admitted as an Attorney at Law (Cayman Islands) in July 2006. After two years in the Caribbean, I returned to Eversheds as a senior solicitor specialising in corporate law.

However, as long ago as 1989, I had wanted to work for a company and Professor Fawcett, my then-personal tutor at Leicester, had guided me on my possible career options. I finally took the plunge in 2000 and joined the legal team at Boots. This was a fantastic experience and included being involved in the sale of Halfords and Boots Healthcare International, as well as the merger of Boots and Alliance Unichem to form Alliance Boots. 

After 6 years with Boots, I decided to join Specsavers as its Director of Legal in 2006, finding myself once again living and working on a small island (Guernsey). Specsavers is a vibrant, dynamic and growing company and provides a great place for a commercially-minded lawyer to continue to develop and grow with an excellent in-house team.