Emily Maguire

Associate, Baker McKenzie

Background

Emily graduated from Royal Holloway in 2014 with a degree in Classical Studies. Emily is an associate in the London Tax department at Baker McKenzie, working with multinational clients on corporate tax matters. Emily trained at Baker McKenzie, having completed seats in Tax, Corporate Reorganisations and Financial Services Regulations, and having undertaken international secondments to the Baker McKenzie offices in both Washington DC and Brussels.

What did you enjoy most about your time at Royal Holloway? Any favourite memories of campus?

I have so many great memories from my time at Royal Holloway and made some great friends whilst there. Highlights for me were staying up until the morning for the Summer Ball in Founders and playing for the netball team. I also really enjoyed my degree and the opportunity to study something so interesting.

Where did you start your career?

I undertook some legal work experience whilst I was still at school, but I didn't really consider law seriously until after I started at Royal Holloway and became involved with the law society. After graduating, I completed my GDL and LPC and then worked as a commercial property and litigation paralegal. I completed a vacation scheme at Baker McKenzie during my GDL year and completed my training contract there.

What attracted you to a career in law?

I liked the idea of working in a field that was analytical and challenging, but also allowed me to work with people and businesses. I'm fortunate to work at a firm which is very international and I was also attracted to the possibility of being able to work in law in different countries.

What advice would you give to students considering a career in law and applying for vacation schemes and training contracts? 

For students applying for vacation schemes and training contracts, it's important to spend enough time thoroughly researching the company where you're applying. Really understanding the firm is important in order to be able to write a strong application and to assess whether a firm is the right fit for you. It's important to really get to know what a firm does and what sets it apart from its competitors and to then bring this across in your application.

What do you feel are the key qualities someone needs to work as a lawyer in your field? 

Resilience is an important quality, both in terms of the perseverance needed to secure a training contract (don't be afraid of rejections along the way…) and also for working in corporate law. Attention to detail and analytical skills are also good to develop, as well as interpersonal and communication skills.