Jewel Owolana - Linklaters Africa Clerkship
In Her Opportunity Story, Jewel Owolana shares her insights and experiences as an African Clerk in the Linklaters Africa Clerkship. Applications for the clerkship are currently open until June 27, 2024. Learn more here.
Jewel Owolana
Jewel Owolana is a Nigerian-qualified lawyer. She graduated with a first class from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and was the best graduating student in the Law of Business Associations (Company Law) 2019/2020 session. She was an awardee of both the Femi Gbede and Famsville Scholarships to the Nigerian Law School, where she finished with a first-class degree and was a recipient of the Director-General’s prize for attaining a first class in the Bar Examinations.
Upon qualification, Jewel worked as an associate at G. Elias, a leading Nigerian business law firm, where she worked across the firm’s finance and capital markets (debt and equity) and commercial dispute resolution practice areas.
Jewel was selected as one of the five African Clerks for the Linklaters Africa Clerkship 2022, where she sat in the Energy and Infrastructure and Structured Finance Groups respectively, and has commenced her training contract at Linklaters LLP, a magic circle law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
In addition to her academic and professional strides, Jewel is passionate about sustainable development and has volunteered in several capacities, including being a UN Women UK CSW68 delegate, advocating for the rights of women and girls. Jewel is also passionate about leadership and career development and currently mentors law students. Jewel enjoys listening to lo-fi music and loves to watch interior design shows.
Before the Clerkship
What inspired you to apply for the Linklaters Africa Clerkship and what steps did you take to prepare yourself for the application?
I saw SEO Africa’s post about the Linklaters Africa Clerkship in April 2021. I was out of university and awaiting law school, so I was on the lookout for internship opportunities, especially international ones. I had seen and heard stories of young Nigerian students (some even attended public universities as I did) landing internship roles at global investment banks, including three people I knew personally. So, the possibility of getting global career opportunities despite the seeming limitations of a Nigerian education was not foreign to me. However, the first time I applied for the Clerkship, I got a rejection mail.
It was not my first rejection, I had my fair share of painful rejections in 2020, so I moved on with life and resumed at the Nigerian law school. A year later, during my law school externship, the application cycle opened again. This time, I made up my mind to be more intentional about the application. B.O, (someone I respect so much and who runs this amazing podcast and online career development community) had posted something on Instagram that said “How badly do you want it? Then, go for it”.
That really stuck with me. I had some thoughts about why I didn’t get in the first time and decided that if I really wanted this opportunity, I would have to put in the work. I figured out that I did not fully understand the Watson Glaser test (WGT), which was one of the assessments in the application process. Bar exams were months away and I needed to study for that too, so, I came up with a plan — I would dedicate 2-3 hours for two weeks to heavily prep for this and no more. I searched the internet for every free resource I could find on the WGT. I watched a lot of videos on YouTube. I also paid for a practice website and practiced till my scores were very high. I dare say I practiced it more than my law school multiple-choice questions at that time. Again, I had exams ahead of me but I felt the opportunity was worth the shot.
SEO Africa had organized a virtual Q&A session in conjunction with Linklaters which I attended. When I felt I was ready enough, I put in my application and took the assessments. Weeks later, when school had resumed, I got an email inviting me to the virtual assessment day, which comprised a case study and two interviews. I was excited and surprised that this was really happening but worried at the same time because exams were fast approaching. Deep down, I knew I had to go for it.
I spent large amounts of time gaining commercial awareness, researching the firm, watching videos on YouTube, orally preparing, and also reaching out to people I had never met, on LinkedIn just to get an idea of what to expect. One of them even did a mock interview with me. I also had to think about the logistics for my virtual interviews. I needed a quiet environment, good lighting, stable electricity, and steady internet. I concluded that having the assessment day in my hostel in school would not be ideal, so I booked a hotel a few hours away from school. (My law school was in Bagauda, Kano State). I also sourced for a backup internet connection, just to be on the safe side. I tried to prepare for every possible scenario.
I had a lot of support while preparing for the assessment day. My roommates in law school were also very helpful. They encouraged me and helped me in my search for hotel options. I also spent some time praying and I spoke words of affirmation to myself (DDK’s Kingdom of Words was my go-to). I had an accountability partner who also joined me to pray and we prepped together as well.
Assessment day eventually came. Everything was going smoothly until the hotel’s wi-fi decided not to work. I had to switch to my phone’s hotspot. At a point during my second interview, the network got so bad that my interviewer couldn’t hear or see me clearly and I had to complete the rest of my interview over the phone. After I finished, I was glad it was all over and I could properly focus on the ‘almighty bar finals’.
After a short while, I was offered the Clerkship. I was in property law class that day when the call came in. I was so overjoyed. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think I paid attention to whatever the lecturer said for the rest of the class that day. I was going to London!
What series of interviews or processes did you go through to secure a spot in this Clerkship?
An online application
Two tests
A virtual Assessment Day (Two interviews including a case study)
During the Clerkship
The Program focuses on Law graduates or students in law school or penultimate year. How did your educational experiences in a Nigerian university (OAU) prepare you for this opportunity?
The Clerkship is open to:
African postgraduate students currently pursuing a Professional Law Course in any Law School in Africa.
African undergraduate students in their penultimate year of studies, pursuing an LLB in any African University
As a law graduate from a Nigerian university, I had an understanding of the basic principles of law and had gained a certain level of legal research and communication skills. Nigeria’s legal system is based on the English Common Law system and while there are differences, it wasn’t so difficult to adapt. I had also done several legal internships before, so I was already familiar with how to draft emails professionally, use Microsoft Office Suite, and demonstrate other soft skills needed to thrive in the workplace.
Are there any specific training programs, workshops, or resources provided during the Clerkship that you found particularly beneficial for your professional growth?
As an International Clerk, I rotated across two practice groups (called 'seats') — Energy and Infrastructure, as well as the Structured Finance Group and was assigned a principal in each seat. Each Clerk sits with a principal who is an associate or managing associate in the firm to have an insight into the kind of work done in that practice area and gain exposure to life generally as a lawyer in a Magic Circle Law firm. Each Clerk is also assigned a trainee “buddy”, who is a current trainee solicitor at the firm and is there to provide support and integration into the firm.
I learned a lot by carrying out tasks assigned to me by my principals, joining client calls, interacting with other lawyers, attending training sessions, wider group meetings, and firm events. I also had coffee chats with several people across different areas of the firm and at various levels of seniority including partners. What I found fascinating was how lovely and willing people were to answer questions, despite their busy schedules.
I learned how to network, hold meaningful conversations, and relate with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. The Australian and Indian Clerkships were run at the same time, and I had the opportunity to make new friends.
The Clerkship featured several sessions which gave deeper insight into the firm’s culture, strategy, and practice areas as well as professional development sessions for the Clerks. We were also involved in practical group exercises such as client pitches. The Clerkship offered a wide range of fun social activities too and I went ice skating for the first time too!
What challenge would you say was most significant for you during your Clerkship and how were you able to overcome it?
I would say dealing with the cold, understanding the transport system in London, adjusting my taste buds to the food, and navigating life generally in busy London. I also struggled with networking for a bit but got comfortable with it later on. I was a little conscious of my accent initially, but soon realized how diverse the firm (and London in general) is, and I became comfortable being myself.
After the Clerkship
How did the Clerkship influence your resolve to become a global lawyer and pursue a specific area of law?
I had always wanted an international legal career and the Clerkship certainly gave me a glimpse of what it was like to work in ‘Big Law’ and how I could apply my knowledge and skills on a grander scale.
You were able to successfully receive a Training Contract at the firm after the Clerkship. What were the things that made you stand out or eligible for this further opportunity?
Completing the Clerkship offers an automatic slot to interview for a Training Contract. Knowing that I had an opportunity to come back again really encouraged me to put my best foot forward throughout the Clerkship and ultimately at the training contract interview.
The Clerkship experience was also an avenue to discover whether the firm was a fit for me and since I really enjoyed the work, the environment, and the people, I made my enthusiasm known during the interview and demonstrated everything I had learned (technical and non-technical) during my time at the firm.
What advice would you give to future applicants from Nigeria looking to successfully apply and stand out, considering the eligibility criteria, requirements, and selection process?
Do not limit yourself. Don’t think that certain opportunities are reserved for certain kinds of people. Even if you have experienced rejections in the past, it doesn’t hurt to try again. Use rejection as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and be more strategic in your approach. Never assume you can ‘wing’ anything, always be prepared. Applications are currently open and I encourage you to apply here and here.
Resources
Can you share the academic, non-academic, personal, and professional resources you utilized before and during the Clerkship that were pivotal to your success?
Pre-Clerkship
I watched lots of videos on YouTube on commercial awareness, assessment centers, and the Watson Glaser Test.
The SEO Africa training program also prepared me ahead of the Clerkship.
During the Clerkship
I read Financial Times and listened to the podcasts to stay current.
Read Practical Law to gain an understanding of legal concepts.
Utilised firm-specific knowledge resources.
Her Opportunity Story spotlights Nigerian women who have landed transformative opportunities and provides detailed insights for other Nigerian women who would be applying for those opportunities.
Previous Edition of Her Opportunity Story: Read Toyosi Onikosi’s journey to becoming a Standard Bank Chairman’s scholar at Oxford University here.
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