As a female apprentice initiating a career in the IT industry, attending the TechNExt Norton Rose Fulbright fringe event was a deeply insightful experience. Though starting something new can be intimidating, the opportunity to broaden my perspective and receive support from others has enabled me to grow and develop. My main takeaway from the event was that collaboration drives positive change, a sentiment which resonates with my own perspective.

Hearing the experiences of other apprentices on the panel “Fresh Perspectives Through Early Careers” allowed me to reflect and feel supported in the shared experiences and challenges we have faced across the firm’s early careers programmes. The panellists explored how they adapted to a corporate environment and gained valuable experience along the way.

The panel on “Innovation That Turns Complexity Into Capability”, showcased how IT synchronises with legal technology to drive smarter decision‑making, more efficient collaboration, and new pathways to deliver exceptional client outcomes. It provided me with an insight into how other departments work, so I can work more effectively with other teams going forward.

Another panel that really resonated was “Women in Legal Tech”. As a young woman, I found it inspiring to hear reflections on how the panellists learned to navigate the corporate environment. They went on to explore the importance of empathy when working with people across all seniority levels, which has inspired me to adopt a more empathetic approach in my working life. Not everyone’s career path is linear - experience can come from a range of roles, each of which can add value and shape a broader, more adaptable skillset.