School of Law Alumna proves success isn’t just about sticking to a plan
Holly, a School of Law alumna, finds purpose beyond the legal profession, helping vulnerable communities through her work in the charity sector.
Inspired by gripping legal dramas, Holly Newton-Steele (Law LLB, 2017) once imagined herself as the person kicking the door down in court with the niche argument that ‘blew the case apart.’ However, her time at the School of Law reshaped her understanding of the law and, eventually, her career trajectory. Today, Holly has carved out a meaningful path as a Corporate Partnerships Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity, proving that success isn’t just about sticking to a plan, but about finding fulfilment.
From Leeds to Paralegaling
Reflecting on her time at the School, Holly recalls:
Once I started studying at Leeds, I realised the reality of Law perhaps wasn’t as sexy, but I loved learning and debating all of the legal nuances.
After Leeds, Holly signed up to complete a Master’s in Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Manchester but a summer job at Leeds General Infirmary opened her eyes to the impact she could make in using her legal skills to help people. Instead, she enrolled in the Legal Practice Course and set her sights on qualifying as a Serious Injury Solicitor.
After completing her studies, Holly worked as a paralegal for several years before starting her Training Contract in 2022. She thrived in the fast-paced environment of a busy law office, building strong relationships with clients and working closely with her team. However, the Covid pandemic disrupted this dynamic, and unfortunately, the vibrant office culture never fully returned.
A change of direction
Despite her passion for helping people through legal work, the shift to remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped her perspective.“I undertook the majority of my training contract over Teams or in an empty office, and this had a huge impact on me as a 20-something year, old living alone, in a city where the majority of her social life was through work.” While she recognises that remote working is incredible for a lot of people, Holly really missed the ‘rush’ that working in Law brought before Covid happened.
Holly took a leap of faith and transitioned to the charity sector, joining The Children’s Hospital Charity in a full-circle moment. “I knew I wanted to find a role that would have a lot of face-to-face contact, whilst also utilising the analytical, strategic, and communication skills that I grew during my time as a Solicitor.” She recalls taking a chance and calling the hiring manager, saying, “‘I know my CV is bizarre, but please just give me a chance to talk you through it”
Holly now works as a Corporate Partnerships Officer at The Childen’s Hospital Charity and has thoroughly enjoyed every moment there. She also now manages partnerships with her former law firm and has successfully brought several new law firms on board as partners.
Looking Ahead: Personal and Professional Growth
Holly is excited to embrace a period of enjoying her career after a whirlwind journey through education, career shifts, and personal growth.
Reflecting on the path she’s taken, she says, “In all honesty, I am excited to have some time just feeling settled and content. It’s such a crazy path to go from GCSEs, to A-Levels, Uni, post grad, securing a training contract, paralegalling, rotating seats every 6 months, to then securing a qualification job. In our 20s, there is always ‘something’ to be working towards.”
Having reached a point in her life where she truly loves her job, enjoys a strong support system of friends, family, and a wonderful partner, and calls a city that feels like home her own, Holly’s long-term vision is focused on further personal and professional growth.
To current students and recent graduates considering a non-traditional path in Law, Holly offers advice:
Completely trust your gut. Just because you CAN do a career in Law, it doesn’t mean you SHOULD if you aren’t 100% sure on pursuing that path. Try not to be influenced by comments such like ‘oh it’ll be such a waste for you not to be a lawyer now!’ Only about 50% of the people I studied with actually went on to qualify into law, and a good percentage of us have qualified and moved onto another industry! Having a degree in Law makes you so desirable in a number of sectors, so don’t feel you’ve ‘wasted’ your time studying Law! You will excel where you are passionate, and the measure of your success in life should be your happiness, not your job title.
Looking back at her favourite memories of her time at Leeds she recognises the friendships she built along the way as one of the most memorable, friendships that remain strong a decade later.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself during your degree,” Holly advises. “Work hard and you will get amazing grades, but you’re only at Uni once! Make sure you have fun, travel during your holidays, enjoy living with your pals and the daft midweek nights out. Don’t sacrifice your health and enjoyment of your Uni experience by trying to be perfect. You are amazing to be where you are, take a step back and be proud of yourself for getting here”
Curious about other alumni career paths? Explore their stories here.
