Dispatches from London: How I Googled My Way to Being an English Lawyer in London

Me and Law School Friend Winter 2006

I was a college graduate working a low-level but upwardly mobile assistant position (can you say Devil wears Prada?) at a major corporation in Boston and was in the midst of a bitterly cold winter in 2005. I spent a lot of time on the computer between tasks Googling a way to be anywhere but where I was. As I had a English boyfriend that I spent most of my days desperately missing in that way that you can only miss a love on another continent. He wanted to move to America so I Googled “English citizens moving to America” extensively and realised that it was a dead end with his lack of qualifications, money and martial status.

Next, I tried to figure out how I could go to England. I set up a few informational job interviews for that February. My main grasp of the interviews was that the job market was going to be more difficult than I expected as I would need to be on a “graduate scheme” for most careers starting in September and the applications were already in. Also, no one was willing to give me, as a recent grad, a work permit. I looked into the possibility of a fiancée visa and, gulp, a UK marriage visa.

My boyfriend didn’t have the haphazard approach to marriage that I had in my early 20s (think: “if Britney can do it, why can’t I?”). On our next holiday, he proposed and we were then engaged to have a normal engagement and wedding rather than a rushed one to bring us to the same continent. As one cannot work on a fiancée visa, this left me with only one choice for entering the UK without a wedding band and having something to do with my days: back to school.

Returning from the trip in February, I resumed my post Googling my way to a future abroad. After eyeing the cost of graduate degrees ranging from $20k-$60k for a year I was becoming increasing disheartened. Then, like every other good political science graduate in America I thought, “what about law school?”

Now this seemed remarkably easy: if you already have an undergraduate degree it only takes 2 years to become a lawyer (split into two types—solicitors and barristers) in England and Wales. The application cost was £5 and I happened to have a five pound note left over from February so I attached it to the simple one page application, added an international stamp and poof! I’d applied to three law schools in London in the course of an afternoon. Do not pass Go. Do not take the LSATs.

Further research showed me that while law school was easy to get into if you already had a degree, the tricky part was getting someone else to pay for it and that’s where something called a Training Contract (solicitors) or Pupillage (barristers) came in. If I were to get one of those, not only would the firm or chambers granting them pay my way and give me a small stipend, they’d employ me for two years when I finished school. Sign me up, I said!

In March I heard that I had been accepted into law school and in April I heard back from several firms granting me interviews. I lined up in the interviews for a week in May and flew over for a stressful few days. Two weeks later I received an email from my current employer telling me that they were offering me a contract and I accepted.

Four years down the line it’s strange to think of sitting all those miles away dreaming of working in London and that it’s actually what I’m doing now. Certainly things haven’t gone the way I’d planned then –the least of which being that the English fiancé never materialised into a husband. I’m very happy with my London life and having found a career and law firm that I love from Googling my way through that long Boston winter

Dispatches from London: Overcoming the challenges of cycling to work in London

Although already a recreational cyclist, I have finally built up to taking on the ardent task of cycling at rush hour into work in the past few weeks. Luckily, I live only 1.5 miles from my work and the ride there is a downhill one. Of course it makes the ride home a bit more arduous, but at least I only arrive sweaty on the end without shared space with 800 other people.

It’s taken me four and a bit months to feel comfortable enough to cycle to work due to the logistical considerations (mostly involving hair and make-up, honestly). Going from the point of buying a bicycle in April to feeling comfortable on the streets of London has taken me over four months. It’s a slow process and learning my way around and to share the road with expletive-spewing motorcyclists, people jumping out of cabs and squeezing between double decker buses can still be a bit frightening.

My main challenges with cycling and how I’ve overcome them.

1. Challenge: learning the streets and easiest cycle routes.

Solution: TFL maps.

When I started cycling, I only knew bus routes that I’d been taking for ages. They aren’t always the nicest or safest routes, but at least I knew I wouldn’t be going down the wrong way. The definitive guides are actually available at tube stops and put out by the TFL. I have one on my wall next to my door and every time before I leave the house I check my route. They have major roads that have signed cycling routes in yellow and quieter routes in blue. It’s how I know a lot of London now. Someone the other day mentioned a restaurant on Persival Street and I responded, “yeah I know it, that’s a blue street”!

TFL Cycling Maps

2. Challenge: The gear (or “kit” as the Brits say)

Solution: Investing over time

Getting a bike wasn’t too much of a problem – I invested a bit (£350) but have earned it back in saved tube fare alone since May. I chose a Trek T10 ladies bike that’s a good hybrid. I personally don’t like the look of the fold up bicycles and like the option of taking a jaunt in the country on my bike. More difficult has been the extras. There’s a lot to it – lights, locks, bags, helmet and hi-visibility gear. I had to invest in some things in the bike shop, I made do and asked for relatives to give me any spare neon they had kicking around (got more than you’d think), and ordered a few items from deep discounter Sports Direct. I tend to upgrade about 1 item per month putting £30 of my budget aside for cycle gear. Plus, there’s been an entire female-oriented cycle fashion movement which I’ll devote another entry to, but I will put a pic up of a gorgeous helmet I’m coveting from Cycle Chic!

http://www.cyclechic.co.uk/index.htm

http://www.sportsdirect.com/

3. Challenge: Organisation

Solution: Setting out my school bag the night before

There’s a lot to cart around when it comes to cycling. I just have to keep my bag ready with my lights, lock, make-up, water bottle, wallet, keys, hair brush, helmet, and reflective vest all packed and ready so I add my lunch from the fridge and am out the door.

4. Challenge: Not being a red sweaty mess

Solution: cycling slowly

This is a controversial tactic that I take as I am luckily not someone who profusely sweats. I can get away with cycling to work in my dress or suit and arrive unscathed if I do so slowly. It does put a dent in my ego as people fly by me in lycra and streamlined cycling clothes whilst I saunter along in my dress at more relaxed pace. I’m not cycling primarily for exercise though, I do it because it gets me to work faster than any other mode and I enjoy it. Plus, I don’t have to change when I arrive at work, I simply add a suit jacket (back of my office chair), some heels (hidden under my desk) and put on my makeup at my desk or in the bathroom. Many others shower at my office and do their full morning routine in the office or the gym. When the weather gets worse, I may have to join them. On the weekends I often just wear more comfortable clothes and cycle normally in them. Obviously if I’m going out somewhere fancy, I leave my two wheeled friend at home.

In all, it’s still a work in progress but I’ve found that I arrive to work much more energised and I see a few people that I normally wouldn’t. This morning I had a good conversation with a important Partner coming from the bike area up to the offices. We talked about cycling naturally! He was very impressed that as an American, I’ve learned to cycle in London. I’m certainly not a tourist anymore!

Dispatches from London: The Secrets of Primark

As someone who occasionally suffers from anxiety, shopping in London on the weekends is not always a pleasurable activity. And the store that gets my stomach churning with the mere mention of its name is Primark, or Primani as its ironically called as a play on the fact that everything there is as far from couture as one can get.  Typical prices would be: sunglasses and tights for £1, bathing suits for £3, suits for £20–the place is a bargain hunter’s dream.

When people find out I don’t shop at Primark, they assume its for moral and environmental reasons.  Nope, I just cannot cope with the massive crowds, endless queues, non-existent fitting rooms, incorrect sizing, and utter chaos.  Yet, half the time I give a compliment, the woman retorts “Primani!” with a wave of the hand and a smile on her face.  The grin suggests she found it against the odds — and paid next to nothing for it.  When the 7,000 square foot Oxford Street opened in April 2007, a near riot ensued.

For North American visitors to England, there’s isn’t really an equivalent.  It’s H&M before it became overpriced or Target with only clothes and accessories but no website because the stock turns over too fast. I think it’s a must to visit in the UK– yet I am obviously not qualified to explain how to maximize your experience. I took the featured photos on a recent attempt on a Tuesday afternoon during which I lasted three minutes.

There was only one person to ask: my friend Kate. She follows high fashion and is able to find Primark pieces to mix with her staples that in turn results in a classic, tailored look. Here are her top tips for a successful Primark experience and her three fave recent finds.

Kate’s Primark Shopping Tips:

1. Go at off-peak times. This can include Mon/Tues/Wed, at 1030 and 3, or Saturday morning at 830.

2. Be open-minded about what you’ll find; don’t bother going with something specific to look for.

3. Don’t wait an hour for the dressing rooms. Guesstimate whether or not something will fit you (my tactic), or wear a tank top and leggings so you can try something on in the store.

4. Don’t pay any attention to sizes! Try on the size you would normally wear first and then go up or down according to fit. I’ve had everything from 10 to 16 fit me perfectly just in the last few months.

5. If you find something you absolutely love and know you’ll wear out, buy two (or three), as it’s pretty much guaranteed you will not find that item again on your next shopping trip. This is particularly relevant with their flats.

6. Always check the sizes on shoes. I came home once to discover I had two different size boots!

and finally…

7. Don’t buy something just because it’s a bargain!

The boots (£11) she says are near perfect replicas of Jimmy Choo for Hunter and the shoes (£6) and headband (£1.50) are very Chanel.

Dispatches from London: Exploring London’s Other Markets

A sunny Friday in London with my boss out of town led to a perfect opportunity to take up my new friend Sally’s invitation for lunch at Borough Market. She claims to have seen Jude Law the last two times she strolled its isles, however with Jude away in New York for his role as Hamlet on Broadway, we had to look out for other treats.

Sally led me straight to her favourite stall in the Backyard Market and soon I had a huge slab of Spanish omelette with the choice of three sides for £5. My choices: lentils, mushrooms, and beets. We grabbed a seat on a slab below a lamp-post and “tucked in”. Usually an omnivore, I was pleasantly surprised to find the meal very filling.

Over lunch, I explained that I’d do a little write up for Anglotopia and Sally (half English, half Chinese, raised in England) instantly took to rushing around the market saying “Americans would like that!” and me snapping away. The meringues looked especially nice and based on further smells and sights, I decided next time I’m try the large vats of paella.

I deposited Sally back to her office and made my way back across London Bridge to the City and paused to look at all the people escaping their offices for a slice of afternoon sun. I love the autumn days in London where each moment of sunshine may be my last with the heavy weight of winter’s anticipation hanging above–it makes me enjoy every moment.

Relevant Links:

Borough Market

Hamlet on Broadway

Brick Lane Market

Dispatches from London: Guide to Couch Surfing in London

Editor’s Note: After a busy summer in London – our intrepid American Expat Blogger, Kat, has returned to a regular posting schedule. Welcome back Kat! We look forward to reading about your fall adventures in London!

I’ve been quite a lazy blogger, but not a lazy resident of London this summer and am sad to say goodbye to picnics and lidos but am welcoming to Fashion Week sales and the start of Apple season. Hello fall, I mean, autumn (as the Brits say)!

One way that I’ve been extending my love to Americans in London lately has been to “rent” out my futon in my little 1-bedroom flat to a variety of Americans coming through town. I started with Holly at the start of the summer, an effervescent Texan living in DC who was en route to Oxford for a masters program (ahem, programme) and spent an evening dancing with me at Kensington Roof Gardens. Next there was Ryan, a concert enthusiast who came to London for three days and somehow saw: Jay Z, Coldplay, Girls Aloud, White Stripes, Massive Attack, Pete Doherty, and an Arsenal game. His stamina was intense!

And today I got a booking for a couple who come early tomorrow morning. Renting a couch can cost you anywhere from free to £20 and a spare private room £25-50.

How do you find these people with spare couches? There was the time when a girl asked me in an internet café and I let her stay at mine for two days. I swear I’m a wanderer trapped in a corporate lawyer.

If you wanted crash out on someone’s couch in London, there’s a few websites that can help you out. Remember to speak to the people on the phone, get some details (passports), pay in person or through a third party server, and ask for references of people who have stayed previously!

Couchsurfing.com – the oldest online and cheapest means (free!) of crashing at someone’s house.

Craigslist House Wanted Ads – Craigslist London house wanted section

Couches on Gumtree – couches north of the river on this traditionally antipodeans website

I Stop Over – a site that acts as a go-between in the exchange between seeker and host.

With the average hotel room costing £99 a night in London, just crashing out and having use of wi-fi and a kitchen can be a good deal. And for someone like me, hosting is a nice way to meet new people and get some extra cash to put towards those pesky American student loans that didn’t disappear, sadly, when I left America.

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