Thursday 08-01-2026 - 18:47

We continue our mini series with part 3 where Yasmin Khan-Guns shares her reflections on overcoming obstacles

 

1) What was the biggest obstacle you faced as a student or early-career professional, and how did you overcome it?

As a student, my biggest obstacle was feeling constantly “behind”.

Everyone seemed to be talking about vacation schemes and training contracts they had already secured or completed. I had not applied for anything - I had nothing lined up and it was very easy to spiral into comparison and panic.

The way I slowly overcame this was by:

• Stopping asking people what they were doing all the time.

• Focusing on what I could control: my grades, my applications, my experience.

• Accepting that there are many routes into the profession, and that timelines are different for everyone.

 

As an early-career professional, my biggest obstacle was – and still is – networking anxiety. Walking into a room where I do not know anyone, I know no one and having to talk to strangers - this is something I find very uncomfortable.

I have not fully overcome this obstacle. What helps is:

• Making sure at least one person I know is at the event – they become my “safe base”.

• Setting small goals, like “I will have three proper conversations and then I can leave”.

• Remembering that most people feel awkward and are relieved when someone else starts the conversation.

So, my obstacles have mostly been internal – comparison, self-doubt, social anxiety – and they are managed, not magically cured.

 

2.  For international students, what strategies helped you adapt to the UK job market and workplace culture?

 

I was not an international student myself, but based on what I see from colleagues, a few strategies work well:

Immerse yourself in the UK legal conversation.
Follow UK law firms, legal news accounts and lawyers on LinkedIn and Instagram. Attend virtual open days and events that focus on UK practice and commercial awareness.

Prioritise practical experience, however small.
Mini-pupillages, open days, part-time paralegal roles, volunteering in advice centres – these not only build your CV but also show commitment to the UK market.

Ask explicit questions about culture.
In interviews and networking conversations, ask about working styles, communication and feedback. That helps you avoid misunderstandings later.

Make use of your careers service.
The University of Law’s employability teams are very used to supporting international students and can help you tailor your CV and applications for the UK market.

Use your “difference” as a strength.
International students often bring language skills, cultural knowledge and resilience. Framing those positively, rather than apologising for them, can set you apart.

 

3.  Can you share a time when you faced rejection or failure, and how you bounced back?

 

After university and my LPC, I was turned down by a lot of law firms. I was also turned down for till roles in Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. So, not only was I rejected from legal jobs – I was also rejected from supermarket jobs too.

 

Rejection is hard. There is no way to make it feel nice. What I did, and what I would encourage you to do, is:

Pause and take stock.
Acknowledge how far you have already come – finishing a degree, surviving exams, juggling work, family, friends and study.

Keep moving.
I kept applying, I broadened the range of firms I was applying to, and I stayed open to different types of roles.

Detach your worth from the outcome.
Being rejected by a firm or a supermarket does not mean you are not good enough; it means you and the organisation were not the right fit at that specific moment.

One day, you genuinely will be able to walk past the firm that rejected you and smile. Because you will be somewhere else that suits you better, and it will make sense in hindsight.

 

 

Join us again for part 4 - mentorship and growth....