Yusuf Serang, Future Trainee Solicitor at Fieldfisher — From India to a Training Contract in the UK

In this episode, Yusuf shares his inspiring journey from Mumbai to securing a training contract at Fieldfisher, offering practical advice for aspiring lawyers on networking, academic success and standing out in competitive applications.

Yusuf reflects on moving to the UK as an international student to study law at Swansea University and explains how he approached university with an open mind, exploring different areas of legal practice before discovering that commercial law best matched his interests in solving business problems and helping clients achieve their objectives.

The conversation explores how gaining experience at a high street firm, an international in-house legal team and across different commercial practice areas helped him refine his career goals and develop a genuine understanding of what commercial lawyers actually do.

Yusuf also discusses the challenges of building a professional network from scratch in a new country. From travelling across the UK to attend networking events to finding mentors and even securing legal work experience through conversations at his part-time job, he explains why curiosity and consistently asking questions opened doors throughout his career.

A major focus of the episode is academic excellence. Yusuf explains how a chance conversation during his first year at university transformed his mindset and ultimately led him to graduate top of his cohort with the highest overall average. He breaks down the four key ingredients of a first-class law essay and shares practical advice that any law student can apply to improve their grades.

The conversation also explores interview preparation, with Yusuf explaining why self-awareness became his greatest advantage. Rather than memorising model answers, he reflects on how analysing every work experience, identifying lessons learned and understanding his own strengths enabled him to answer unexpected interview questions with confidence.

Yusuf also challenges one of the biggest myths surrounding training contract applications—that only legal work experience matters. Drawing on his experience working in a timber yard, he explains how transferable skills such as communication, attention to detail, organisation and problem solving can be just as valuable when presented effectively in interviews.

Throughout the episode, Yusuf emphasises the importance of reflecting on experiences rather than simply listing responsibilities, showing how any role can demonstrate commercial awareness, resilience and client-focused thinking.

Finally, Yusuf shares practical advice for aspiring lawyers, encouraging students to stay curious, take every opportunity available, build meaningful relationships and remember that consistent self-reflection is often the difference between a good application and an exceptional one.

00:00 Introduction  
00:20 Meet Yusuf Serang  
01:00 Why Commercial Law?  
03:00 From India to Swansea University  
04:00 Building a Network from Scratch  
05:00 Finding Mentors & Work Experience  
06:00 What Yusuf Would Do Differently  
07:00 Graduating Top of His Cohort  
09:00 The Four Ingredients of a First-Class Essay  
10:30 Developing Critical Analysis  
11:00 Self-Awareness for Interview Success  
12:30 Preparing for Assessment Centres  
13:00 Why Non-Legal Experience Matters  
14:00 Transferable Skills from a Part-Time Job  
15:00 Turning Timber Sales into Interview Success  
16:00 Practical Advice for Aspiring Lawyers  
17:00 Final Reflections