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Charity Mafuba talks to Adaku Nwoko, a Law Graduate about her late start in the law and aspirations to become a Solicitor.
Adaku, can you please briefly tell us about yourself?
I am Adaku Nwoko, a first-class law graduate, author of A Late Bloomer’s Law Degree Journey in the UK, and the founder of ACN Legal Admin Services Ltd.
Prior to my journey studying law, I spent several years as a fashion designer, running my own fashion business. I found deep joy in helping people feel confident and radiant in what they wore. However, over time, I reached a point where I wanted more. I craved intellectual challenge, and a deeper sense of purpose.
I had always had a legal spark. Years earlier, I earned a diploma in law and even attempted to get a law degree, but life and its unpredictable turns put that dream on hold. Still, the desire never left me. Then one day, while listening to a solicitor speak about how meaningful it was to help clients access justice and clarity through her work, something clicked. I saw myself in her words, not just advising, but uplifting people in difficult moments, and being part of their turning point.
That was my epiphany. I realised I wanted to channel my skills and passion into something that could impact lives at a structural level.
Fashion had been a creative outlet, but law offered a way to advocate, to empower, and to bring lasting change.
I went back to university in the United Kingdom, and though it was not easy, I graduated with a first-class degree which showed the result of grace, being persistent, having and seeing my vision through.
After my graduation, I founded ACN Legal Admin Services Ltd, born from my experience working as a case officer and McKenzie Friend at a Legal Advice Centre. There, I witnessed how many people particularly those without financial means or legal literacy, struggle. ACN Legal Admin Services Ltd fills that gap by offering legal administrative support, from document preparation to legal research, and drafting.
I also serve as a volunteer legal writer with The BAME Woman in Law and am currently in the process of qualifying as a solicitor.
What interested you about the Law? And
My interest in law started quite naturally, through a close friend who was an international lawyer. I was fascinated by their brilliance, eloquence, and the confidence with which they carried themselves. The way they approached problems, their sharp vocabulary, and their seemingly effortless grasp of global issues left a lasting impression on me. I admired how they could hold conversations across disciplines and guide people with clarity. That intellectual depth inspired me.
That curiosity soon led me to begin watching legal dramas and crime series (Perry Mason, Suits, CSI, etc). I became engrossed in courtroom scenes, the back-and-forth, the clever arguments, the strategic use of evidence, especially forensic findings. The precision and poise lawyers displayed in the court room, resonated deeply with me. I began to imagine myself doing the same; standing in court, calmly presenting an argument that could change someone’s life, advocating for people and helping them through their most vulnerable moments.
What was your experience of completing a law degree in the United Kingdom as an International Student?
Studying law in the United Kingdom as an international student was a defining chapter in my life. It was exhilarating and deeply humbling. While I had often visited London on holidays, living outside the city and settling into academic life was a very different experience. The first challenge was adjusting to the British academic system, especially the emphasis on critical thinking, legal reasoning, and case law analysis.
In Nigeria, the approach I was used to was more about memorisation and rote learning, so developing my own arguments and challenging existing legal opinions took time to master.
Another adjustment was the teaching style itself, long lectures packed with legal theory, followed by seminars where active participation was expected. I had to get used to independent study and managing tight coursework deadlines, especially with the volume of reading each module required.
There were also unspoken rules, like when and how to engage tutors, academic referencing expectations, or the formality of legal writing that took time to learn. There was the sense of being both invisible and hyper-visible.
As an international student, I often felt the pressure to work twice as hard to prove I belonged. The accents, cultural differences, and even something as simple as classroom humour or making friends did not always come easily. But each challenge shaped me. Each hurdle reminded me that I was living the dream, my desire was being fulfilled and that I was rewriting my story.
It was not just academic for me; I made sure that I took every opportunity to gain real life experience while I studied. I applied for internships and, after a series of interviews, secured placements at a law firm and public sector legal departments.
One of my most formative moments was working as a Case Officer and a McKenzie Friend, where I supported individuals who could not afford legal representation. Though, I could not represent the client because I am not yet qualified, I was there sitting in court, observing the court process, providing emotional support, having helped them prepare all their court documents. It gave me the courtroom exposure I had once only watched on TV, but now it was real, human, and humbling.
I also interned with the Legal and Democratic Services departments of a United Kingdom Council, where I sat in on meetings, watched how local governance worked in real time, and observed how laws and policies were translated into community action. I saw compliance, regulation, and political negotiation up close.
One of the most eye-opening experiences was my time in the legal department at Rolls-Royce. There, I gained enormous insight into the private sector, from aerospace regulatory compliance to intellectual property, contract management, and data protection. I saw how legal teams support massive global operations, ensuring everything aligns with both national and international standards. I learned how essential it is for lawyers to understand the technical and commercial sides of a business not just the law.
All these experiences helped me bridge theory and practice. I did not just get a law degree, I built the confidence, skills, and awareness to enter the profession informed and empowered. Studying law in the United Kingdom as an international student was not just about lectures and textbooks. It was about becoming part of the legal world I had long admired and realising that I belong here.
Based on your legal experience to date, what area of law do you see yourself practising on qualification?
My journey has naturally drawn me toward Immigration and Probate law. Two areas where I have seen and experienced practically, how access to justice can change lives. Having gone through the UK immigration process myself, first as a frequent visitor and later as an international student, I understand how overwhelming and technical it can be. I have been on both sides of the table, and that personal experience has given me a strong sense of empathy for people who might struggle with the process.
While volunteering as a Case Officer and McKenzie Friend at a Legal Advice Centre, I worked closely with people who were facing family breakdowns, custody issues, or uncertain immigration statuses, many of whom simply did not have the resources or knowledge to defend themselves. Some were misinformed. Others were afraid. Many just didn’t know where to start. Supporting them with preparing court documents, to sitting beside them in court and offering emotional and procedural guidance deepened my conviction that this is where I am meant to be.
I am also increasingly interested in probate law. It is a field that often intersects with grief and complex family dynamics, Wills and capacity tests. I have seen how compassionate legal support can ease people’s burdens during one of the most difficult seasons of life.
With the rapid evolution of AI and legal tech, I am actively upskilling in that space as well. I believe lawyers of tomorrow will need to be both empathetic and tech-savvy. I want to be able to combine traditional legal practice with emerging technologies to serve clients more efficiently and responsibly.
What advice would you give to women who are considering a legal career and think that it may be too late for them?
My honest advice would be that it is never too late. One of the most powerful truths I have learned and one I share in my book is that timing does not reduce purpose. Whether you are 25 or 45, if the desire is there, if you feel drawn to the law or any career path that lights something inside you, then that calling is valid.
As already alluded to, I started my legal journey after years of running a fashion business. I had a diploma in law from many years ago and even once tried to pursue a law degree but could not, due to life’s twists and turns. Still, that dream never died and eventually, I succeeded in earning my law degree with a first class, a vice chancellor award for my outstanding contributions to the social sciences and law department and gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the graduating students. I felt like a star on my graduation day, and those are memories that will stay with me forever.
Your life experience is not a delay, it is a unique strength that will shape the kind of lawyer, advocate, or changemaker you will become.
Surround yourself with people who believe in you, who remind you of your ‘why’ when you forget it. Take the first step. Then the next.
You authored your debut book, 'A Late-Bloomer's Law Degree Journey in the UK'. Can you please tell us about the book? And Why you wrote it?
My book, A Late-Bloomer’s Law Degree Journey in the UK, is more than a memoir, it is a message. A message to anyone who has ever felt that their dreams have an expiration date. The book is about my personal journey of returning to university after years of running a fashion business, reigniting a long-held dream, and finally earning a first-class law degree in a country far from home. But more than that, it is a story of determination, faith, and finding purpose again.
I wrote it to encourage not just women, but anyone at any stage in life who feels a stirring to begin something new. Whether they are facing uncertainty, starting over, or simply afraid of being “too late”, I want my story to show that it is possible. You do not need perfect circumstances. You just need clarity, conviction, and the courage to keep going. Resilience, consistency, and belief in yourself are powerful tools, but so is community.
My journey was strengthened by the people who believed in me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and reminded me of my ‘why’ when I couldn’t see it myself.
The book is also a reflection of my faith. I am a deeply faith-based person, and I wanted to document the role that trusting God played in my success. There were moments I did not know how I would get through emotionally, mentally, or even academically, but I leaned on my faith, and God came through for me in remarkable ways. I want readers to feel that same hope.
I wanted to shine a spotlight on the opportunities that come with studying in the United Kingdom, the academic exposure, the access to practical legal experiences, and the personal growth that emerges when you are pushed beyond your comfort zone.
For international students, especially those coming from backgrounds like mine, the United Kingdom can be a challenging transition, but it can also be a transformational one.
Writing the book was my way of turning a personal victory into a shared one. If it helps even one person take that first step, then it has achieved what I hoped it would.
What does the future hold for Adaku?
The future, for me, is full of purpose, growth, and service. I am currently on the path to qualifying as a solicitor(I have enrolled for my SQE 1 exams and currently studying for the exam in July). I want to be a voice for people who are often unheard, individuals dealing with immigration and probate matters without guidance, and others who do not know their rights or how to exercise them.
Adaku Nwoko
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaku-nwoko/
June 2025
Interviewed by Charity Mafuba
Commissioning Editor,
Solicitor (England and Wales), New York Attorney