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Meet Ellie, Human Rights Lawyer
- maryhartley19
- Nov 10
- 2 min read
Name: Ellie
Degree: Modern & Medieval Languages (French & Russian) at the University of Cambridge
How did you spend your Year Abroad?
Half in Paris, doing a law internship and studying at Sciences Po. A few months in Petrozavodsk, Russia, studying Russian and teaching English. A couple of months in Kyiv, Ukraine, also doing a Russian language course.
Briefly outline your journey from graduation to now.
I started at a tech startup in customer service (random but it was a last minute job in London!) and then did the law conversion course and became a paralegal. I then got a training contract at my current law firm, trained to be a lawyer, and have now qualified as a solicitor in the human rights department.
What is your current job?
Solicitor in the human rights department
What does your current job involve day to day?
Speaking to clients, taking witness statements, writing letters, writing emails, defending their human rights in different ways. This can include trying to get them released from immigration detention, obtaining compensation for breaches of their human rights, challenging decisions that may breach our clients’ rights.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Getting a good result for a client that could make a big difference to that person! It can feel like a big responsibility having someone’s faith in you for such important issues, but can be very rewarding.
What advice would you give to someone interested in this job?
Stick to what you are interested in and get relevant experience in that area. Showing that you are passionate and enthusiastic can go a long way.
How has your languages degree been useful during your career so far?
Language skills always come in handy when you least expect it! Having a background in Slavic languages has helped me to communicate with and understand clients from many backgrounds. I’ve used my French and Russian for translating and understanding documents. It’s helped me to find confidence in communicating too.
Do you use or practise your languages outside of work?
Yes when I travel, I also take Ukrainian classes to build on my knowledge from uni. Learning Russian helped me learn some Polish too. Learning languages has given me a good basis to learn more languages too and I find it’s much easier to pick new ones up. I still practice my languages where I can and enjoy going to film festivals or watching TV or reading books in the original.
Thanks very much to Ellie for sharing her journey!
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