Please introduce yourself.
I finished my degree at King’s in Politics, Philosophy, and Law last summer, and I’m now studying the LPC at the University of Law. I start my training contract with the Competition and Markets Authority later this year through the Government Legal Service. I’m very happy to be back in London; not only to begin a career that I feel passionately curious about, but to be able see my friends and start ‘adulting’!
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. I moved over here because although Toronto is a great city, I needed to experience something different and less familiar to grow. So far I think it’s worked! I’ve learnt so much about myself and pushed myself in ways I’d never imagined.
In terms of hobbies, I worked as a fashion stylist for the last four months before beginning the LPC and it was one of the most empowering four months of my life. I even met Gabriel Macht (Harvey Spector), and had a real life power struggle with him over Italian shoe sizes.
Why did you decide to start KWIL?
When I started KWIL I didn’t necessarily have the word ‘feminism’ in mind, nor was I thinking about the inequality of genders represented as partners at law firms. My main goal was to create a space for women studying law at King’s, or pursuing law as a career, to empower each other through casual mentoring. Having gone to an all-girls school, I know how powerful all women spaces can be, and I wanted to recreate that professionally. I’m proud of our Mother Daughter Network, as well as our international ambassadors who bring an international lens to the network.
What did you learn in the process of setting up the society - did you face any doubts or struggles?
I was lucky to have the support and excitement of so many classmates who made founding the society possible. It was a bit difficult to explain to people what exactly the society does, and why it should exist. Some questioned the need for a women in law society given that there are no men in law societies… my response to this was to always remain open to speaking to people and addressing their concerns. I found that having genuine one to one conversations with people who wanted to learn more was more productive than fretting over the details of our constitution.
What advice would you give to students that want to contribute to female empowerment but might not know where to start?
Talk to people! My favourite thing to do is to hear what people from different places and backgrounds have to say. Contributing to any movement doesn’t have to be formal, and I never really set out to do it from the start. Once you start to get a feel for your environment, you’ll be able to instinctively judge where your efforts are needed. I’ll never forget the casual but pivotal moment three of my friends and I met in Press Coffee on Fleet Street, put our heads together, and decided to start KWIL.