Meet Lily: Two Weeks Inside the Legal and Commercial Side of Fintelligent

Lily has spent the last two weeks working at Fintelligent alongside our Contracts Manager, Haland Tate, getting some proper hands-on experience of the legal and commercial side of a growing business.

As Lily looks towards a future career in corporate law, we asked her a few questions about her experience, what she’s learned and whether the last two weeks have changed her plans for the future.

How have you found your experience at Fintelligent?

I’ve found the experience really interesting and valuable. It’s given me an insight into what working within a corporate environment actually looks like, rather than only learning about it academically.

I’ve particularly enjoyed getting practical exposure to the operations of a growing business, especially as I hope to work in corporate law in the future.

Everyone has been incredibly supportive, giving me the opportunity to work on legal tasks independently while always being available to offer guidance when needed.

What skills have you gained and how will you apply them in the future?

I’ve developed my ability to analyse complex information and identify important issues, particularly when reviewing contracts and considering their wider commercial impact.

These are skills I’ll be able to apply both academically and professionally as I continue my studies and work towards a career in law.

What are your career ambitions?

My ambition is to study law at a Russell Group university before eventually qualifying as a solicitor and working in corporate law.

I’m particularly interested in corporate law because I enjoy the interaction between law and business, especially how legal considerations influence commercial decision-making.

The opportunity to work with businesses on complex transactions and strategic matters is something that really appeals to me.

What impact has this experience had on your ambitions?

This experience has definitely strengthened my interest in commercial and corporate law.

Before joining Fintelligent, my interest was largely based on what I’d learned academically. Being able to see first-hand how businesses work with legal and professional advisers has made the area even more appealing.

Having now had some meaningful practical exposure, I’m even more excited to explore different areas of the corporate world and understand how they could fit into my future career.

Have you learned anything about yourself and your work style?

I’ve learned how important it is to understand the wider context behind a task. When reviewing contracts, for example, reading the supporting documents and understanding the transaction makes it much easier to approach the work properly.

I’ve also seen how important organisation is, which is something I feel is already one of my strengths.

Most importantly, the experience has confirmed that I really enjoy working on corporate matters and projects.

What part have you enjoyed the most?

I’ve particularly enjoyed reading business correspondence and reviewing contracts with organisations in both the UK and internationally.

Being able to work on real documents and understand how businesses communicate and operate has been one of the most interesting parts of the experience.

Has anything surprised you?

I’ve been surprised by how often you need to move between different tasks before they're completed. It’s shown me how important multitasking and organisation are within a fast-paced business.

I’ve also been surprised by just how many different people and organisations a growing company works with behind the scenes.