#35 UK Legal Podcast: How Charlie Cromwell Turned a STEM Background into a Training Contract at Bird and Bird

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Additional resources mentioned in this episode:AllAboutLaw’s Video Interview Masterclasshttps://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/thelawyerfiles----Emerging legal professional and future Bird and Bird trainee Charlie Suzannah Cromwell shares her inspiring journey into law, shaped by curiosity, resilience and a unique blend of technology and legal insight. A must listen episode of TheLawyerFiles. In this episode, I sit down with Charlie, a First Class Computer Science graduate whose journey spans the UK and the US, touching on algorithmic bias, data equity and the power of accessible legal communication. From realising coding was not the career she wanted, to discovering the impact she could make through law, her story shows how technical skill, analytical depth and a commitment to social mobility can create a modern and meaningful legal path.Her journey highlights the realities of transitioning from STEM into law, the lessons she learned during her Bird and Bird vacation scheme in Intellectual Property and how mentorship, writing and teaching strengthened her confidence in navigating complex ideas.We talk about✅ What inspired her transition from Computer Science to the legal profession✅ How she applies systems thinking and logic from STEM to legal reasoning✅ The key lessons from her Bird and Bird vacation scheme and what it taught her about collaboration and communication✅ Her experience writing for The Student Lawyer and why simplifying complexity is essential for good legal work✅ Her perspective on social mobility, access and why visibility matters in the profession✅ Her advice for aspiring lawyers who come from non traditional backgrounds or want to enter tech focused areas of lawWhether you are exploring a future in technology law, considering a non traditional route into the profession or seeking inspiration to build confidence in your own journey, Charlie’s story offers clarity, motivation and real insight.Follow The Lawyer Files on Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music.Subscribe on Substack for written in