We recently caught up with Law graduate and Commercial Solicitor, Eleanor Toomey, on her time at St Mary's and her career journey since leaving the University.
Why did you choose to come to St Mary’s?
I have always attended Catholic Schools throughout my education, and when it came to look at universities it seemed like the logical choice to explore St Mary’s. My first visit was the St Mary’s open day, and from the outset something just clicked. I really enjoyed the community feel and campus environment that was absent at other universities.
After the Open Day, I was fortunate enough to attend a law summer school, and this further insight into life at St Mary’s reaffirmed the feeling I had at the open day. The time at the summer school also gave me a glimpse into university life and I left the experience knowing that St Mary’s is where I was meant to be.
How did you find the teaching and lecturers on the course?
I thoroughly enjoyed my studies at St Mary’s. With the Law LLB course there are mandatory modules but the variety of optional modules on offer was vast. I was really surprised at this, as not all law schools offer such a selection of topics to study, especially as St Mary’s was a smaller law school at the time. I had the privilege of studying modules such as medical law and ethics, jurisprudence, and human rights law.
The level of support was unprecedented from the staff at St Mary’s. You weren’t anonymous, your lecturers knew you, and no matter the lecture size you felt supported throughout. Lecturers were approachable during lectures and seminars, and if you needed a one-to-one appointment, they would offer a great level of mentorship alongside your studies.
How did you find student life at St Mary’s?
I loved student life at St Mary’s. It was a work hard, play hard experience. I loved the campus size because you got to know everyone. Whether I was living on campus in my first year or living in the local area during my second and third years, I would always see a friendly face on campus whether that was a member of staff or student.
The Student's Union ran a variety of events from career fairs to movie nights. Welcome Week, especially, was the perfect opportunity to make friends outside of my halls and course.
I also played rugby during my time at St Mary’s, which was so much fun. It was a sport I had not played before university. It was such an amazing opportunity to try something new and make friends along the way.
I think whether you are somebody who enjoys nightlife, playing a sport or being part of a society, there is something for everyone at St Mary’s.
What did you go on to do after you graduated?
After graduation, I started my first legal job back home in Essex as a Paralegal. The firm I was working for then subsequently offered me a training contract. After two years of training and studying for my master’s degree in the evenings, I qualified as a solicitor and specialised in corporate and commercial law.
Shortly after the pandemic, I took a sidestep outside of law and worked in the industry of international trade and development, which was a great insight into the international business world.
I have recently just started a new job back as a solicitor within the corporate and commercial team at Backhouse Solicitors in Chelmsford, which I am loving. I am very much living the life I dreamed of at university.
How did St Mary’s help with the early stages of your career?
During my time at St Mary’s, we had numerous events and opportunities where you could speak to barristers, solicitors, and judges. The connections made through these events gave me great insight into the legal profession and reaffirmed that law was something I wanted to pursue.
As I have already said, the lecturers also offered great mentorship, which had such a positive impact on me. They gave me the voice and confidence to actively take steps into my legal career. I think having a good relationship with my lecturers and them knowing me as an individual really helped to shape me as a person and prepared me for the professional world.
The careers team at St Mary’s were also a great asset. They offered very practical help when I needed it, particularly with interviews and assessment centres.
The support from St Mary’s definitely helped me take the step into the legal profession and in those early stages of my career.
How did you feel you grew as a person at St Mary's?
At St Mary’s, I put a lot in and got a lot out. I worked hard on my studies, took part in extracurricular activities (such as being Law Society president in my second and third year), alongside embracing all the social aspects St Mary’s had to offer.
I joined St Mary’s as an eager 18-year-old, really excited about this next step in my life, albeit a bit naïve of the realities of adulthood. St Mary’s provided me the perfect opportunity to grow and develop as an adult so, that when I left, I had the skill set to enter the world as prepared as I could be for the next steps in life both professionally and personally.
What do your family make of your achievements?
I think they're all really happy with where I am and proud of all my achievements. They have all enjoyed my time at St Mary's. They loved coming to visit and watching me play rugby; albeit badly!
My sister loved St Mary’s so much that she ended up reading History, then completing her post graduate studies and finally working with the learning and people development team for some time.
So, it has been a full family affair.
What has that been like coming back and now being in a position where you are actually talking to our current students about your journey?
I love doing it. Even when I was running the Law Society, I really enjoyed mentoring the first-year students and sharing advice about my experiences, the mistakes I made, and the lessons I had learned.
I will always come back to St Mary's because it gave me so much. I am regularly invited to speak at the law fairs and other events and have recently joined the mentoring programme. Whilst speaking with the students about my journey, I am very frank about my pathway to law and the fact that it’s not always picture-perfect. I do reassure them, however, that with tenacity and patience you can achieve your dreams.
Whenever I'm afforded the opportunity to come back St Mary’s, I never decline the invitation.