Legal Cheek Careers sits down with Leela Fair
“It was actually the only private practice opportunity I considered,” says Leela Fair of her move to Bates Wells after almost nine years at a financial services-focused firm. Now a senior associate in its corporate and commercial team, she advises clients ranging from technology businesses and trade bodies to charities and philanthropies. Leela speaks to Legal Cheek Careers about what drew her to the firm, its “very open, friendly, and curious” culture and how it supports its next generation of lawyers.
Having built up extensive experience in the financial services industry, Leela was keen to broaden her horizons. Bates Wells was already on her radar through a friend at the firm, whose experience had given her a glimpse into its culture. “One office in London, open-plan working and medium-sized firm means you can get to know everyone,” she recalls, adding that seeing how happy her friend was and that his path to progression was enthusiastically supported, this gave her confidence in the people and working environment.
Leela’s interest in law was sparked by her involvement in local Amnesty International groups. “That led me to think I would become a human rights lawyer,” she recalls smiling. It wasn’t until her second job after university, however, that she gained a clearer understanding of life as a solicitor. Working with clients, reviewing contracts and analysing regulatory changes helped her discover what she enjoyed about the profession. “If this was a solicitor’s day-to-day work, I found it motivating and interesting,” she explains.
The breadth of work that first appealed to Leela as a solicitor is now a defining feature of her practice at Bates Wells. Although based in the corporate and commercial team, she draws on her experience in regulation, investments and governance to work closely with the firm’s charities and social enterprise teams. “I consider myself a jack of all trades who enjoys collaborating alongside matter experts, rather than specialising in one particular area,” she says. Her practice spans everything from advising trade bodies, retail brands and technology companies to supporting foundations, philanthropies and purpose-driven businesses with their investment needs.
Working with such a varied client base also means adapting her approach to different needs. For charities and other purpose-driven organisations, smaller budgets and more limited resources can shape how legal support is delivered. “It requires adjusting how you engage to ensure everyone reaches their goal effectively,” Leela explains. Part of this involves helping clients become more self-sufficient. “I enjoy knowledge sharing, conducting training sessions, and building internal templates or policies so clients don’t always have to rely on a lawyer to progress their projects,” she says.
That does not mean the work is any less complex. “With the growth of social investment, large non-profits and charities engage in sophisticated investment activities,” Leela explains. Her financial services background comes into play here, allowing her to draw on her experience of institutional investment while developing a deeper understanding of the needs of charities and non-profits.
The crossover works both ways. “Commercial clients (such as early stage med-tech companies) may also seek external funding and support from non-profits or charities with sector expertise in that specific medical field,” Leela notes. For her, working across both the commercial and non-profit sectors provides “a well-rounded understanding of different client needs”.
Sharing expertise is important to Leela’s client work, and she sees that same emphasis reflected in the way Bates Wells develops its junior lawyers. “The training and development opportunities are amazing,” she enthuses, noting that the firm’s HR and recruitment teams continually refine the training programme. Trainees have several people to turn to, including “a direct supervisor, a buddy, and the trainee principals”, creating an open environment where they can ask questions, seek one-to-one guidance and find their feet.
Alongside this day-to-day support, trainees attend structured workshops throughout their training contracts, with Leela also highlighting the importance of “learning from one another”. And development doesn’t stop at qualification. Fee earners at every level benefit from ongoing professional development, including “tailored workshops at least twice a year”, alongside dedicated budgets for external seminars and events.
The supportive environment extends beyond training, with Leela describing the firm’s culture as “very open, friendly, and curious”. “From my first week, people in the kitchen would greet me and start conversations,” she recalls. These everyday interactions helped her settle in and break down the barriers that can come with joining a new firm, making it easier to build relationships beyond her immediate team.
That sense of openness carries through to the work itself. “There is strong encouragement to explore passion projects and bring personal interests into practice,” Leela explains. She points to colleagues who have turned their interest in sport into opportunities to work with sport related governing bodies, sports clubs and grassroots organisations and influence sports related legislation.
Curiosity extends beyond lawyers’ own practice areas, too. Leela highlights the firm’s internal knowledge-sharing sessions, which give colleagues a chance to hear about the amazing work, like high-profile trials taking place in other departments. These sessions offer a glimpse into work they might not otherwise encounter, encouraging lawyers to take an interest in the wider work of the firm.
For prospective applicants keen to experience that culture for themselves, Leela points to the many ways they can connect with the firm. “The recruitment team has done a fantastic job” of making information accessible, she says, highlighting Bates Wells’ LinkedIn, website articles, videos, webinars and open evenings. Beyond these, the firm has plenty of “internal cheerleaders” who are happy to speak with aspiring lawyers and share their experiences of life at Bates Wells.
Turning to applications, Leela draws on her own experience of sitting on interview panels. While impressed by how well today’s candidates present themselves, she stresses the importance of making a genuine connection. “The most important thing is connecting with the interviewees and presenting your experiences, whether legal or non-legal, to reflect who you are and why your interests and strengths align with a legal career,” she advises. Applicants should think carefully about what motivates them, where their strengths lie and how these align with the realities of being a solicitor.
Leela’s advice extends beyond securing a training contract. “I would remind myself that being a lawyer is not the only role available in the legal space,” she reflects. The skills developed through legal training, from research and client communication to public speaking and relationship management, can open doors beyond traditional fee-earning roles, including careers in legal tech and AI, operations and recruitment.
For aspiring lawyers navigating the pressures of applications and exams, Leela’s parting message is to keep the bigger picture in mind. The journey into law can feel intense and competitive, but “you are not defined solely by being a lawyer”, she reminds them. Qualification is only the beginning. “Take it one step at a time, remain open to learning, and make the most of opportunities as they come,” she advises.
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