Finlay Perry

Current rotation: Seconded to a client and the Responsible Business team

What originally attracted you to the firm? How did you decide that a legal ops role was for you?

My attraction to the firm stemmed from its position at the forefront of legal services innovation and the legal sector more widely. I attended various networking and student events that exposed me to the possibility of pursuing an alternative career path in the legal sector, and more specifically, the firm's push for graduate recruitment in the legal ops space. The legal industry is evolving and breaking away from traditional ways of working, so the opportunity to be an agent of that change is appealing.

After graduating, I knew I wanted to start my career on a commercial graduate scheme that allowed me to acquire skills in a range of disciplines. Aside from the technical skills I will develop throughout the programme, I also anticipate a broad range of soft skills will be nurtured from the experience of working in a leading international law firm and its various internal teams. Legal ops provides a unique opportunity to develop a broad skillset, from data analysis, project management, client communication and more. But, above all, it's exciting to form part of a team that fosters innovation at its core.

What aspects did you most enjoy about the Legal Operations Training Course attended at the start of the programme?

I most enjoyed meeting the other people on the course. As legal ops is an evolving space, particularly at entry level, we don't see the large cohorts that trainees at the firm do. In this way, meeting and learning alongside graduates in similar roles at other firms is crucial. This not only enhanced my learning experience, but I have since built a firm network of legal ops professionals that will be invaluable as I begin my career.

Equally, it was a great opportunity to learn more about the different rotations I will undertake throughout the programme, not least from the experts themselves.

What project are you most excited to work on and why?

I am currently working on a range of exciting projects as part of my client secondment with Diageo and internal secondment with the Responsible Business team. I am excited to gain a greater understanding of working in-house during my time at Diageo and understanding the 'why' behind the work we do from the perspective of the client.

As part of my Responsible Business seat, I will be working closely with the firm's diversity networks. Over the next six months, I'm thrilled to be a part of the team working with GEN (Gender Equality Network) to plan for Women's History Month and International Women's Day next March.