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Early Careers Series: Finding Justice, Finding Faith: My Journey into Law.
Inspired by the stories shared at Legal Women UK’s, Sisters in (the)Law event, Dolapo Aboaba, an aspiring Solicitor, reflects on how personal experiences, purpose, and faith have shaped her legal journey and commitment to justice.
Why I Chose Law
From a young age, I have always had a strong sense of what is right and wrong. Growing up and attending a predominantly white secondary school, I often encountered microaggressions, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, that left me wondering why fairness was not guaranteed for everyone. While I cannot point to one defining moment, those early experiences instilled in me an awareness that injustice often hides in plain sight, and that silence allows it to grow.
I did not want to be silent. I wanted to be someone who understood the rules of the system and used them to support others who often felt unseen or unheard. That is what first drew me to the law: the power it has to help people, give them a voice, and show them that they matter.
University and Discovering Human Rights Law
At university, I studied Law with Human Rights and graduated in July 2024. Human Rights offered me a global lens. It helped me understand how policy, power, and people are interconnected.
The Turning Point: Working at the Law Clinic
The most important lesson came from my time working at the university’s law clinic. One case I supported involved a woman who had experienced domestic abuse in her past relationship with her ex-partner, who earned a high income and had legal representation, seeking full custody of their children.
The situation was deeply unfair. The mother had limited financial means and had already endured significant trauma. She did not just need legal advice; she needed someone to listen. Someone to care.
That case was eye-opening. I saw how the law, when applied without empathy or awareness, can deepen inequality. However, I also saw how, when used with compassion, it can serve as a lifeline.
My Role at Citizens Advice
After graduating, I joined Citizens Advice initially as part of the Campaigns Team, and currently I serve as a Debt and Benefits Adviser. This role has given me a different view of injustice: the quiet, everyday kind that presses on people through missed rent payments, Universal Credit confusion, Benefit Sanctions, and mounting debt.
Many of my clients live with mental health challenges, social isolation, or feel trapped in cycles that seem impossible to escape. My work has taught me that legal knowledge is not just about systems and policies; it is about people. About walking with someone through a system that they have been excluded from and reminding them they have rights, choices, and worth.
The Kind of Lawyer I Aspire to Be
Through this experience, I have come to see that law is not only about resolving problems, it is about helping people feel seen. It is about helping them reclaim their identity.
When someone has been repeatedly told that “nothing can be done” or that “this is just how things are”, having someone believe in them, inform them, and stand beside them can be transformative.
That is the kind of solicitor I aspire to be. I want to be part of a generation of lawyers who use the law to bridge gaps, challenge inequality, and show people that they are valued. I want young people who look like me to know that they belong in this space, that their voices, lived experiences, and strengths are needed in the legal profession.
What Comes Next
I will commence my Master’s in Law with Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) journey in September 2025 and hope to secure a paralegal position shortly afterwards; to build the practical foundation I need to grow in this field.
Final Thoughts: Law, Legacy, and Faith
My mother always reminded me to focus on what I want and to trust that the right doors would open, even when others closed. That encouragement has stayed with me.
Attending the Legal Women UK Sister-in-Law event in July reaffirmed this belief. Hearing stories from women across the legal sector reminded me that this journey is about more than personal achievement; it is about impact. It is about legacy.
Having faith, I have learnt, is not about having all the answers. It is about moving forward with purpose, even when the path ahead is unclear. That is the kind of strength I hold on to.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
This is the truth I will continue to carry as I move forward, not with fear, but with faith, purpose, and perseverance.
Dolapo Aboaba,
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dolapo-aboaba-72a9451a3/
LLB Law with Human Rights Graduate
Debt and Benefits Adviser-Citizens Advice Bureau
September 2025