Alumni Profile — A Conversation with Emmanuel Goriola
Emmanuel Goriola (Selwyn College, m. 2016) is a Trainee Solicitor who recently joined Clifford Chance. Here he reflects on how he came to study Law and his time at Cambridge.
Q: How did you become interested in Law as a subject?
A number of different things came together really.
I did medical work experience in Year 11 but absolutely hated the hospital environment. The thing I found most exciting was talking to the junior doctors about medical negligence and their duties as doctors.
I looked into medical and criminal law a bit more and, because it is not too far from me, I visited the Old Bailey a few times to see some criminal trials.
I would also be lying if Suits did not add to the interest! I might not even be where I am today if it was not for Harvey, Mike, Jessica and Rachel!
Q: How did you develop your interest in law and what did you study at A-level to prepare for your university applications?
As aforementioned, I went to the Old Bailey a few times and watched trials for a wide array of criminal offences. I thoroughly recommend visiting to anybody in London when it opens again after Covid.
I did the International Baccalaureate and so I ended up doing a variety of subjects including Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths, Spanish and Geography.
For Law, I feel like you can do any of a number of subjects to put you in good stead.
Studying English and doing an English extended essay analysing poetry helped me refine my analytical abilities and structure a good cohesive argument with a strong thesis.
Knowing that I was always interested in doing a year abroad at a Spanish University, I tailored my personal statement to show my interest in both law and in Spanish. I did my Spanish coursework on the defamation in the media of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.
Outside of my subjects, I did some further reading to get an insight into Law. I would recommend What about Law? Studying Law at University by Janet O’Sullivan, Catherine Barnard and Graham Virgo; and Letters to a Law Student by Nicholas McBride.
Q: What was your admissions experience like? Were you nervous? How did you prepare? Did anything funny/interesting/special happen during your interview etc?
I was nervous on the day of the interview because I had never had an academic interview before that moment. To prepare for the big day, I did some practice Law mock interviews with my friend who was also applying for Law. After school we would just find a room, google ‘typical Oxbridge interview questions’ and take turns asking and answering different questions.
We would also discuss topical news issues just to get used to having academic debates on current issues.
On the actual day of the interview, I would just say enjoy it and talk to the students who are there to keep you company. It will help calm your nerves and I became close friends with them when I actually joined the college!
Q: Why did you choose the college you did?
I choose Selwyn because it has a good reputation as an especially friendly college, and it had some of the best law academics at the University. It was also literally a minute away from the Law Faculty which made my life so easy!
If possible, go visit Cambridge before you apply and have a look round some of these colleges and talk to people if you can!
Q: What was your experience at Cambridge as a student like? What do you enjoy the most? What challenges did you face and how did you deal with them? What did you do with your free time?
I enjoyed my time at Cambridge and I constantly threw myself into new experiences. I loved the collegiate environment and getting to know everybody at Selwyn from various events, dinners and socials.
I love sports and thoroughly enjoyed playing football for Selwyn and doing athletics for CUAC (the University Athletics Club). Getting to do some of the things I love, whilst making friends and having great socials, was definitely one of my highlights from Cambridge.
Some of my most challenging times at Cambridge involved balancing various commitments. When you have busy weeks with a few pieces of written work, as well as non-negotiable commitments with your other societies and interests it can be tough. Time-management is really important, and you need to be able to allot a certain amount of time to different things. It is also important to prioritise work based on your deadlines. Reach out to your supervisors and they are often happy to give you a little extra time if you have a good reason.
Q: What was your post-Cambridge career trajectory like? What do you enjoy the most about being a lawyer?
On the back of my vacation scheme in second year, I was offered a training contract. I decided to go straight into the LPC and my training contract (Spain felt like enough of a break for me!).
Although it is still early days, I have enjoyed getting to know the team and working with the trainees on big deals.
Q: What advice would you give young people hoping to apply to Law at Cambridge? What advice would you give your younger self?
Have confidence in yourself, prep well and enjoy the process!
The Faculty of Law is grateful to acknowledge Clifford Chance as one of our Access and Widening Participation Partner firms. Their support allows us to do access work to encourage bright, young students from underrepresented backgrounds, broadly defined, to come to Cambridge. For more on their commitment to inclusion and diversity, please visit https://www.cliffordchance.com/about_us/responsible-business/inclusion-and-diversity.html
