God's will with my career

At the age of about 13 or 14, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career as a lawyer. I had enjoyed reading from an early age and excelled at subjects that demanded a strong grasp of the English language. For several years after that, I assumed that this would just happen. I figured that I was quite smart, I was personable and I was hard working. What could possibly stop me?

Fast forward a few years and during the second year of my A-levels, tragedy struck. My older sister passed away after a long battle with illness. Along with the stresses of coursework, exams and university applications, this was one of the most difficult periods of my life. After we were informed that my sister’s condition was terminal, the gravity of the situation began to affect my engagement at sixth form. One afternoon, my English teacher asked me to stay after class and softly enquired if everything was ok. I explained what was happening and immediately she made it her mission to do everything in her power to help me through the rest of that academic year. She was a tower of strength to me and my family over the next few months. She ensured that I had extra time to prepare coursework, special consideration for exams and even gave me lifts from sixth form to the hospital during my sister’s last days. Ultimately, I gained straight As at A-Level and a place at my first choice university. As I learnt quickly, my teacher was also a Christian and I have no doubt the Lord had sent her for such a time in my life.

University came and went. Following an eventful three years, I graduated proudly with a 2:1 in Law. Whilst I had not secured a training contract yet, I was sure it would only be a matter of time. After a year working in financial services, I began to apply earnestly for training contracts and vacation schemes. I remember praying during this period for a training contract. My applications were relatively successful. I was offered three vacation schemes over the summer.

At this stage, I was working full time so I had to take annual leave in order to attend them. I realised quickly that there was very little chance of getting enough time off from work to attend all three. As such, I picked one offer and decided to give my all to that vacation scheme. During that placement, I had an amazing time. I bonded quickly with my fellow students, I was certain that my department loved me and I made sure I completed every task diligently. I won a bottle of wine at the firm’s talent competition. At another event, the senior partner gave me some spare tickets for the raffle taking place at the end of the event in recognition of “all my hard work”. My end of scheme interview went extremely well, to the extent that it over-ran significantly and I spent 10 mins discussing Denzel Washington films with my interviewers.

A few weeks after the scheme, other students started to receive their training contract offers. However, nothing for me. Eventually an email from the firm arrived. I read the words “..unfortunately, we are not able to offer you a training contract.” I was crushed. Nonetheless, I was determined not to let this stop me. The next year, I managed to secure two more vacation schemes. Again, I took time off work and attended. Again, I felt I excelled on the schemes. Unfortunately, there was still no training contract offer. Confusingly, my feedback was universally positive and one of the reasons given for me not receiving an offer was a feeling that I did not want it enough.

In my disappointment, I remember meditating on the Lord’s Prayer. The words “your will be done” really began to hit home to me. For the first time since the age of 13, I came to terms with the possibility that maybe it wasn’t God’s will for me to be a lawyer. I had completed three work placements at three of my favourite law firms and each had rejected me. At the same time, my career in financial services was starting to blossom. "Maybe I should stick with that", I thought.

Over the next couple of weeks, my prayer was “Lord, may your will be done.” Even without the training contract and the career as a lawyer, I was learning to be content as long as I was doing what God would have me to do. My disappointment slowly began to subside and was replaced by a sense of peace.

A few weeks after my latest rejection, I was invited for a training contract assessment day. I attended with a calmness, content in the knowledge that God’s will would be done in my life. If this training contract was for me, God would not let it pass me by.

The assessment day went well. I put it to the back of my mind and continued to pray for God’s will to be manifested. Two weeks later, I remember receiving a call from a number I didn’t recognise. I answered in my most polite voice. Instantly, I recognised the voice of the partner who had interviewed me two weeks earlier. After a long spiel, he announced that he was delighted to be able to offer me a training contact. To put it mildly, I was elated.

A few weeks later, one of my other sisters came to visit and congratulate me on the news that I was indeed on my way to becoming a lawyer. She asked me what firm I would be joining. When I told her, her face lit up. “No – you’re joking?!” she said. My sister is a school teacher and it transpired that my firm takes part in a reading scheme with her school that she coordinates. “This is amazing” she said. “They are really great people.” Out of all the law firms in the City for me to join, I realised this was more than a coincidence. I’m certain it was God’s will.