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Early Careers Series-From Language to Law: Where It All Began
By Patrycja Anna Wilk
I came to Law the long way round, after completing a BA in Languages and an MA in Translation. This unusual path has presented its own unique challenges and benefits. It has fundamentally shaped both my understanding of the law and my career aspirations.
How Language Led Me to Law
After graduating with a BA in German and Spanish from Southampton University, I moved to Germany and began an MA in Translation. Before commencing this degree, I was set on becoming a translator. However, everything changed when I took a ‘legal translation’ module. For the first time, I encountered legal texts. I was immediately hooked. I became fascinated by the precision and complexity of legal language, where even words as seemingly pedestrian as “reasonable” carry multi-layered, nuanced definitions. What intrigued me even more, was exploring legal concepts that exist in one language or jurisdiction, but not in another. The greater the differences between legal systems and languages, the more intellectually challenged and engaged I felt.
When I finished my MA, I knew I had a passion for Law, but I also knew I had a clear career path ahead as a legal translator. I tried to marry these two interests by qualifying as a certified legal translator, which allowed me to translate documents ranging from powers of attorney to subpoenas. However, I soon realised that this wasn’t enough. I didn’t just want to translate law; I wanted to practise it.
My First Steps in Public Law
Soon after my MA, a long-held dream came true: I was accepted for a traineeship at the Council of the European Union. As a trainee in the Polish Translation Unit, I worked on translating legislative and procedural documents such as regulations, directives, and decisions. Professionally, this was a career milestone, but once again, what excited me most were the legal aspects of my role. I became captivated by how European Union (EU) lawyers draft legislation, prepare proposals and recommendations, and navigate the delicate balance between legal harmonisation and member state sovereignty. Collaborating on legal projects across Council departments and EU institutions deepened my interest in the legal profession.
During my time at the EU, it became clear to me that I wanted to become a lawyer. But shifting my career path was daunting. I would have to leave behind a field I was already building a career in and return to education, without knowing if the gamble would pay off. At that time, I wasn’t quite ready to take the leap.
Stepping into the Private Sector
Before committing fully, I wanted to gain experience in the private sector to get a broader view of the legal profession. I joined KPMG Law in Germany as a Legal Assistant in the Legal Financial Services Department.
It wasn’t long before I knew with absolute certainty that I wanted to be a lawyer, and more specifically, a Commercial Solicitor. The fast-paced environment of corporate law appealed to me. No two days were the same. I assisted with legal proposals, compliance processes, drafted engagement letters, and conducted legal research. But what truly ‘sealed the deal’ for me was corporate law’s human element: the teamwork. In translation, most work is independent, often done remotely. I thrive in collaborative environments where learning and mutual support are central. The common thread of collaboration that runs through corporate law made it irresistible to me.
I was ready to take the plunge. I enrolled in a law conversion course.
My Law Conversion
In September last year, I began the Postgraduate Diploma in Law and Professional Practice (PG Dip) at King’s College London. One of the aspects I appreciated most was that all the tutors were qualified solicitors or barristers, offering practical, real-world insights into the profession. This felt especially vital, as many of us on the course were, like me, career-changers keen to get career-ready as quickly as possible.
This academic year, I am progressing to the MSc in Law and Professional Practice at King’s. I am particularly eager to take modules in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Competition Law, and Corporate Finance, which will provide a solid foundation for a career in Commercial Law.
Ultimately, my goal is to secure a training contract at a City law firm. While I’m not quite there yet, I feel ever closer to achieving this goal. In the meantime, I’ve been proactive in complementing my studies with hands-on legal experience, whether through my pro bono work at the King’s Legal Clinic as a Student Advisor, or my upcoming role as an Appropriate Adult, in which I will help safeguard the rights and welfare of children and vulnerable adults who are in police custody.
A Future that Marries my Love of Language and Law
I’m thrilled to have pursued law, but my passion for languages remains. Multilingualism and multiculturalism are in my blood, and I hope to find a legal career that allows me to stay connected to this part of myself. This is one of the reasons for which I’m especially drawn to M&A. The cross-border nature of M&A transactions, often involving international clients and multiple jurisdictions, would allow me to apply my cultural and linguistic background in daily legal work.
That said, I am committed to keeping an open mind and I want to explore a broad range of legal areas during my solicitor training before narrowing my focus.
One thing my journey has taught me is this: I often don’t know what I’ll truly enjoy or excel at until I try it.
Starting in translation and finding myself on the path to becoming a solicitor has made that very clear.
Patrycja Anna Wilk,
MSc Student in Law and Professional Practice-King’s College London
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrycjaannawilk/
September 2025