David FitzGerald, Paralegal and Incoming Trainee Solicitor, Latham & Watkins

David joined the LLM in International Banking and Finance Law with the aim of building his career in international finance. He graduated with distinction in 2025, and secured a training contract with Latham & Watkins in 2026, where he currently works as a paralegal in the market-leading infrastructure finance team. David is also Director of Finance at GROW Mentoring, an award-winning charity that supports social mobility, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. He continues to give back to UCL Laws by mentoring current LLM students. 

What motivated you to study the LLM at UCL Laws?

I was motivated by both push and pull factors. On the pull side, I intended to build a career in international finance and recognised the need to distinguish myself in a competitive market. An LLM in International Banking and Finance Law at UCL, particularly with strong academic performance, would provide that distinction and strengthen my professional credibility. On the push side, I realised that although I wanted to work at the intersection of law and finance, my knowledge of international finance was limited. To operate effectively in that space, I needed rigorous, specialised training to complete my education.

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

Without question, Professor Graham Penn’s module, ‘Legal Aspects of International Finance’, was the most influential course of my academic career. Its impact stemmed not only from the technical content but from Professor Penn’s insistence on understanding the commercial imperatives underpinning financial transactions. He demanded disciplined, commercially grounded reasoning and required me to justify each structural choice by reference to real market practice. That discipline fundamentally reshaped how I approach legal problems. Through sustained engagement with the material, I developed a more rigorous analytical framework and a sharper ability to assess transactions with precision and commercial awareness.

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

Some of my most formative experiences at UCL took place in the LLM students’ library at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS), debating complex issues with close friends. Those discussions were rarely comfortable. There were many occasions when I realised that my initial position was unsustainable and had to rethink my analysis from first principles. Being forced to confront weaknesses in my reasoning, and to dismantle my own arguments before others could, was intellectually demanding and transformative. Learning to interrogate my assumptions rigorously and refine my conclusions under scrutiny instilled a discipline that continues to shape how I analyse problems today.

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

UCL Laws distinguished itself through its insistence on a genuine, practical command of the core material rather than superficial familiarity. The difference lay in the lecturers. They did not reward rote learning but demanded conceptual clarity and application to real commercial contexts. My research essay supervisor, Dr Magdalena Raczynska, exemplified this approach. She required precision in argumentation and methodological discipline, pushing me to refine both structure and substance. That academic rigour ensured I did not simply understand the law in abstract terms but could engage with it critically and apply it confidently to complex financial problems.

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

Since completing the LLM, I began working as a paralegal in the London office of Paul Hastings within its structured credit team, focusing on collateralised loan obligations. That role placed me at the intersection of law and complex financial structuring. In 2026, I completed a summer vacation scheme with Latham & Watkins, where I was successful in securing a training contract commencing in September 2027. I have since joined Latham & Watkins as a paralegal in its Infrastructure Finance team. UCL, particularly through Graham Penn’s ‘Legal Aspects of International Finance’, prepared me for private practice by exposing me to Loan Market Association documentation and developing a precise understanding of how and why such instruments are structured.

Can you talk a bit about your current role and what it entails?

As a paralegal in the Infrastructure Finance team at Latham & Watkins, my work centres on drafting and revising core transaction documents for infrastructure and project finance deals. A typical day involves preparing first drafts, managing conditions precedent checklists, coordinating with opposing counsel, and responding to comments under tight deadlines. The economics of private practice are central to the role. I undertake detailed, time intensive tasks that can then be reviewed and refined by associates or partners, ensuring work is delivered efficiently and cost effectively for the client while maintaining the technical precision required in complex infrastructure finance transactions.

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

One of the most impactful experiences of my career came during an intense transaction that required 18-hour days for nearly three consecutive weeks. Early in the second week, I made two avoidable mistakes and felt completely incompetent. I questioned whether I deserved to be in the role at all. A colleague noticed and told me about a far more serious mistake he made as a trainee, reminding me that in the medium term nobody would care, and in the long term we would all be dead anyway. When I find myself stressed about work or anxious about small errors, I try to remember that moment and give myself some perspective.

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

Infrastructure finance is currently navigating a complex landscape shaped by the global energy transition, evolving regulatory frameworks, and heightened ESG scrutiny from lenders and investors. Large-scale projects in renewables, transport, and digital infrastructure must adapt to shifting government policy, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainty affecting procurement and construction timelines. At the same time, financing structures have grown more sophisticated, often involving multiple tranches of debt, government support mechanisms, and intricate intercreditor arrangements requiring precise coordination across jurisdictions. Looking ahead, I expect continued growth in sustainable infrastructure investment, greater integration of technology in project delivery and monitoring, and sustained focus on bankability and risk allocation. The lawyers who will thrive are those who combine technical fluency with commercial judgment and an ability to manage complexity efficiently across long-dated, multi-party transactions.

You’ve been volunteering as a UCL Laws alumni mentor, sharing your time and expertise with current students. What has that experience been like for you?

Yes, I currently mentor several students on the programme, both formally through UCL and informally when individuals reach out to me directly. It has been deeply rewarding. I would not be in my current position without the guidance and support of others, and mentoring is a way of recognising that debt. Offering practical advice, reviewing applications, and sharing candid reflections on setbacks has reinforced my own perspective on the profession. I believe there is a responsibility to support those coming behind you. I would strongly recommend mentoring to anyone in a position to give back meaningfully.

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

Be clear about why you are doing it. If you simply want a credential, there are easier institutions where the academic demands may be lighter. UCL Laws is not that. The programme is rigorous and, at times, intellectually unforgiving. It was one of the most demanding academic experiences of my life. However, if you are genuinely committed to sharpening your critical thinking skills and developing real expertise in a specialised area, the challenge is justified. The value lies not in the degree certificate itself but in the discipline, precision, and depth of understanding you will be forced to acquire.

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

If you are aiming for a training contract at a leading global law firm, persistence is non-negotiable. Apply, refine, and apply again. You only need one offer to validate any prior rejections. Treat each setback as data, improve your application, and continue until it becomes statistically unreasonable that you have not secured a vacation scheme or a training contact offer.

Is there anything else you would like to add or mention?

Completing the LLM at UCL was the best decision I have made in the past five years. I entered the programme hoping it would help me secure a training contract with an international law firm. I left with something more valuable: renewed confidence in my own ability. Years of rejections had eroded that confidence. The academic intensity and the calibre of my classmates restored it. The experience convinced me that we were capable of becoming exceptional lawyers. More importantly, it reinforced a simple belief that sustained hard work, patience, and persistence can overcome setbacks and open opportunities that once seemed unattainable. 

Find out more about David on LinkedIn.