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Rebekah Taylor talks to Legal Women about Finding Her Place in the Law
The Beginning
My interest in the Law initially came from a personal experience, rather than academic interest. When my mother was going through a situation involving domestic violence, I saw how much impact the right legal help had. It doesn’t just resolve legal matters; it also often gives someone their dignity back when they need it most. It showed me that the law can be a powerful tool to protect the people that need it, and I felt that I wanted to be a part of that, however small or big that part might be.
That experience remained at the forefront of my mind during sixth form and university. When it came to applying for my degree, I knew that Law was the only option for me. I wanted to be able to help people through difficult moments in their lives, by guiding them through what can often be a confusing and inaccessible legal system.
My Path into Law
After completing my A-Levels, I moved to Lincoln to read Law at the University of Lincoln and subsequently obtained an LLB Law Degree. I then decided to stay on at the University for an additional year and completed my LLM Masters Degree in International Law.
Whilst studying, I worked part-time to support myself financially. At one stage, I had two jobs, as a Legal Assistant at an Immigration Law Firm and as a Sales Assistant at Hotel Chocolat. Balancing work and university was challenging, it often meant long days and late nights. However, it taught me that determination is incredibly important when building a legal career. The free chocolate also wasn’t a bad perk!
After graduating, I began gaining hands on work experience at several local Firms in Dorset. This gave me the opportunity to begin client facing work and develop my confidence. Each role confirmed my passion for assisting people with Wills, Probate, and Estate Planning. It’s an area of the Law that requires a lot of empathy and patience, and I feel fortunate to be able to feel like I make a difference in my work every day.
Building Experience
Entering the legal profession without any existing connections can be disconcerting, especially when you are young. I had friends whose parents where solicitors and they knew all about the processes. Many had their parents writing their Training Contract applications for them! I didn’t come from a family of lawyers or solicitors, and I didn’t have a professional network to rely on. My approach was simply to say yes to every opportunity that came my way, by volunteering, shadowing, taking part in work placements, anything that allowed me to learn from those already in practice! I also took advantage of work experience whilst I was still at University. This allowed me to gain an insight into how the law works in practice and made me realise even more how much I wanted to work in law.
Looking Ahead
As of October 2025, I have been working as a Private Client Executive at Harold G Walker Solicitors in Dorset for a year. Every day, I see the positive impact that good legal advice can have on our clients. Whether I’m helping someone draft a Will for the first time, or supporting a family through Probate, I’m reminded why I chose this career, because the Law, is about helping people find stability during uncertain times. Being that support system, for example, throughout the Probate process, for many of our clients, is a privilege.
I am also very fortunate to work at a Firm that is supportive of those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. Our Managing Partner, Nicola Lowe, is the Social Mobility Ambassador for the Law Society in London. Nicola has always been incredibly supportive of me since I have joined the Firm, and has given me the motivation and the confidence to continue with my career progression via the SQE route, with my end goal being to qualify as a Solicitor at Harold G Walker.
For anyone else, especially other women, considering a career in the Law, my advice would be to stay focused on your reasons for wanting to build a career in this industry, and trust that the legal profession needs more people like you. You don’t need to have it all figured out from the outset, and you don’t always need connections to succeed. What matters most is your drive, empathy, and willingness to keep going, even when the path feels uncertain.
The legal profession is demanding, but it’s also extremely rewarding. I think that my journey shows that determination is key and that there’s room in our profession for anyone who wants to succeed.
Rebekah Taylor
Private Client Executive
Harold G Walker Solicitors