Camilla Cerruti, Trainee Solicitor

Camilla Cerruti (LLB, 2023) is a Trainee Solicitor at Hogan Lovells, working at the forefront of the global legal sector. The training contract involves rotating through four seats across different practice groups, and for her third seat Camilla has undertaken a secondment to Hong Kong in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Global Regulatory team. During her LLB studies, Camilla was Social Secretary and then President of UCL Law Society, leading the award-winning student society amid the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

What motivated you to study the LLB at UCL Laws?

I have always been fairly set on studying law, so applying for the LLB felt like the natural next step. The Faculty’s academic rigour and reputation were undoubtedly key motivators. You have the opportunity to be taught by the very best in their fields. The Faculty is also quite varied in terms of the expertise it offers, so from the perspective of someone who knew they wanted to study law but was not entirely sure which area, that breadth was extremely valuable.

Above all, growing up abroad as a ‘third culture kid’, it was important to find myself in a similar international environment. London is truly a one-of-a-kind city in this respect, something that is very much reflected in UCL’s student body.

Were there any particular professors, modules or extracurricular activities that influenced your personal or professional development?

I am sure that all my professors played some part in both my personal and professional development. That said, honourable mentions would have to go to Dr Alan Brener and Dr Anna Donovan.

Dr Brener has perhaps had more of an impact on where I am now than he himself realises. His infectious enthusiasm for teaching, and in my case as my first-year contract law tutor, had a large influence on my decision to consider a career in commercial law more seriously.

Dr Donovan was an all-round stellar lecturer. She cares deeply about her students. After a challenging end to my final year, her kind words went a long way in lifting my spirits and, to this day, I still carry these with me, especially in moments of self-doubt.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time at UCL Laws that has had a lasting impact on you?

I attended the Faculty alumni dinner in my final year, which was a truly special and memorable moment. I had the opportunity to meet UCL Laws alumni at all stages of their careers, including some who graduated in the 1950s and 1960s. It was amazing to see how many have kept in touch over the years, and to hear how some aspects of student life have not changed all that much.

You were Social Secretary and then President of the UCL Law Society during your LLB studies. How do you reflect on this experience?

I am deeply grateful for the experience, and for the trust my peers placed in me during what was an especially turbulent and socially difficult period for us all [during the Covid-19 pandemic]. It was incredibly rewarding, though admittedly stressful; it is a lot of responsibility to shoulder, especially at a stage in life when you are still finding your footing. In any representative position, you inevitably have to balance competing expectations, and as a natural people-pleaser, finding a middle ground, especially between students and Faculty, was not always easy. That said, both roles offered ample opportunities to bring new ideas to the table and make a lasting impact.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that not everyone has the same opportunity to commit a significant portion of their free time to Law Soc. Being on committee is certainly time-consuming, but there are myriad other ways for students to get involved, which I actively encourage. It is not only a great way, especially in your first year, to make friends and build a support system in a new environment, but also to develop your professional network and skills through the various competitions (eg mooting, debating, negotiations).

How do you believe your experience at UCL Laws differed from other institutions offering similar programmes?

What UCL Laws offered me, above all else, was a strong sense of community. I started university in September 2020, an uncertain time that could easily have felt isolating. Teaching in my first year was almost entirely online, and most Freshers’ events were either cancelled or held on Zoom. However, despite these challenges, the Law Society, together with the Faculty, was still able to foster this same strong sense of community, at least from my perspective. While I do think there is always room for improvement, I also believe that, unlike other institutions where student law societies typically operate under the student union, the fact that the Faculty has direct oversight over the Law Society allows it to take a more proactive role in student life beyond simply academics.

How has your career path evolved since finishing the LLB, and how did UCL Laws prepare you for this?

I am less than three years out from graduation, so I am very much just starting to forge my path. I am currently at the tail end of my training contract at a City firm.

I have to say there are definite differences between studying and practising law, and there is a good likelihood that you will forget most of the details by the time you graduate. What I credit UCL Laws most of all for is helping me develop strong foundational skills, whether in or out of the classroom. The Law Society organises a variety of advocacy-based competitions every year, which are a great way to sharpen your critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills, all of which will serve you well not only in preparation for the Bar or the SQE, but as you start your career. 

Can you tell us about your current role and what it entails?

I am currently wrapping up my third seat, on secondment to Hong Kong in my firm’s Intellectual Property and Global Regulatory team. I previously sat in Restructuring and Special Situations in my second seat, and International Arbitration in my first seat. The scope has therefore been extremely varied.

Your training contract is naturally a time of many firsts, and no day looks quite the same. It is quite common for new tasks to be assigned to you on a piecemeal basis over the course of the day or week. It is then up to you to manage your time and balance competing priorities and deadlines. Personally, I have found that scribbling down a daily to-do list first thing in the morning goes a long way. I keep things relatively simple and just use a post-it note and cross tasks out as I progress through the day. Typical trainee tasks, as well as level of responsibility, will vary depending on the seat.

My firm also has a stellar pro bono program. The work is extremely rewarding, so this is something I always carve out time for, even if it means squeezing things in later in the evening or earlier in the morning.

What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far, or had the biggest impact on you?

I have been quite involved on the pro bono side of things and recently helped secure compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme for a trafficking victim, which was my first CICA ‘win’ and one of the key highlights of my training contract so far. The cases my firm undertakes generally involve complex fact patterns, and the details are never easy to work through, but the work is incredibly rewarding.

What are some unique challenges in your area of practice at the moment?

I can only give a big-picture answer, as I have yet to qualify. From a trainee perspective, I would say that the integration of AI, especially across more junior workstreams, definitely involves a balancing act between servicing clients more efficiently and delivering work without undercutting learning and development opportunities. That said, I do think it is important for universities not to shy away from integrating AI in teaching, as it is in many ways very much the way of the future.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of doing the LLB at UCL Laws?

You do not need to have everything figured out by the time you apply, or even by the time you graduate from university. There is no expectation for you to have read any cases or law books before starting your LLB. You have a whole three years, and many more years of working life, for that! Be genuine – do not overthink your personal statement or your qualifications for that matter. A lot of our experiences are more relevant than we think.

A law degree also certainly does not pigeonhole you into a legal career. The skills you will develop are extremely transferable, and studying at a place like UCL Laws will undoubtedly set you up for success irrespective of what path you decide to take.

What careers advice or guidance would you give to current students or recent graduates who are just starting out?

Be confident in what you bring to the table. Unfortunately, it has become all too easy in this day and age, especially with platforms like LinkedIn, to compare ourselves with our peers, but there is very little to be gained from that mindset. The best things happen when we focus on ourselves. Make sure to also enjoy the journey, wherever you are now, and embrace the curveballs that life sometimes throws our way. Everything will eventually fall into place, even if it might not feel like it now.

Find out more about Camilla on LinkedIn.