If you keep up with the legal world on Twitter, you’ll probably have seen the #mypathtolaw hashtag gaining traction over the past couple of weeks. The hashtag has been used by hundreds of legal professionals to reveal how they pursued their dreams to become lawyers. We’ve seen many inspirational stories about overcoming obstacles and not giving up in the face of poor grades or difficult personal circumstances.
This all started on 9 January when the University of Exeter’s Matthew Channon tweeted…
Doing a lot of work at Exeter on Pathways to Law , I want to help make Law not seem so far away as it seemed for me . I was the first child in my family to go to Uni and wasn’t from a privileged background . I would love to hear some of your #mypathtolaw stories.
— Dr_matthewchannon (@matthewchannon_) January 9, 2018
Lawyers responded in full force with stories like these…
-Dad left when I was 8
-Comp school
-No A levels
-Mum died when I was 16
-Tea boy in an Oldham law firm at 15
-Night school @CILExLawyers exams
-FCILEX at 25
-CPE night school @OldhamCollege & distance learning
-part time LPC
-solicitor at 31
-District Judge at 44
#Mypathtolaw— Keith Etherington (@K_Etherington) January 21, 2018
Raised by a single working class Mum. Went to local comprehensive, poor GCSEs and worse a levels. 2:2 in my degree. Lost my mum aged 23 and was told to give up. 4 years qualified, won 2 awards and love my job. #mypathtolaw #NeverGiveUp
— Gemma Ellison (@gemellison) January 22, 2018
The hashtag had started to gain some real momentum by the weekend…
#mypathtolaw is now on my Twitter trends list. When I started this over a week ago I wanted to show that adversity and barriers can be overcome, it is not always easy but we have shown that it can be done. I hope that this has inspired not just lawyers but all who have a dream.
— Dr_matthewchannon (@matthewchannon_) January 20, 2018
I wanted to be lawyer from age 13/14 but was discouraged and told one had to go to Oxbridge for law and I won’t make it, by my local ed careers officer. His advice? ‘get job in Tesco, or become a police officer’. I’ve met naysayers at every step and ignored them! #mypathtolaw
— Leslie Thomas QC (@_lesliethomas) January 22, 2018
Lost my dad aged 12 & raised by my amazingly strong working class mum, couldn’t afford to go to uni but was desperate to be a lawyer, wrote to every law firm in Lpool to get admin role & funding for studies, qualified at 25 against odds, 10 yrs qualified next month! #mypathtolaw
— Sarah Nolan (@sarah_nolan_82) January 21, 2018
…and by Sunday, more than 1000 people had shared their stories.
And the #mypathtolaw stories continue, ive now had over 1000 responses from across the legal spectrum and across the world.
— Dr_matthewchannon (@matthewchannon_) January 21, 2018
Of course, not everyone in the legal profession has had to overcome such obstacles as Barrister Blog’s Matthew Scott reminds us…
Posh school.
Fairly posh uni.
Bar.#mypathtolaw— Matthew Scott (@Barristerblog) January 21, 2018
Now this one sounds familiar…
#mypathtolaw parents died at 11, photographic memory, sat Harvard exams for others, faked legal job after failed drug deal, now bossing it.
— Roman Kubiak TEP (@RomanEKubiak) January 20, 2018
So what’s next? Channon is keen to keep the momentum going and will be mentoring some new students.
It has been a huge few days in the legal spectrum, many inspiring stories, it is really important to harness this . Next question is, how can we use this to really help those who feel the barriers are too great? I will be e-mentoring 3 new students. #helpingothersintolaw .
— Dr_matthewchannon (@matthewchannon_) January 22, 2018
Do you have a #mypathtolaw story to share? Let us know on Twitter.
