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Women in Leadership
Name: Emma Reid
Role: Group Head of Legal
Company: Frasers Group PLC
A bit about you: I live in Nottinghamshire and love to travel, see friends and spend time walking my dog, Bertie.
What is it like working in your company? Working in the retail industry is fast-paced, high-pressure and requires you to be very creative – even in support functions like legal. The culture is very entrepreneurial and there is always an expectation of high performance and productivity. We work on all sorts of exciting projects supporting the business to negotiate contracts with high-profile sporting brands, influencers and celebrities, as well as getting into the nitty gritty of legal arguments and debates on litigation and court claims.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I did a law degree but wasn’t sure I wanted to go into law when I first left University. I joined an automotive company on their graduate scheme and, as part of that experience, I was inspired to become a lawyer but to work in-house for a business rather than at a law firm.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? I did a law degree followed by a Legal Practice Course (LPC). I then did a training contract for two years at a law firm in Nottingham to qualify as a solicitor with the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority. My previous work experience from the graduate scheme helped me to get a job as an in-house lawyer early on in my legal career.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? I manage a team of junior lawyers and paralegals and I love seeing them grow and develop as lawyers and business advisors. We have had one team member qualify as a solicitor with us and another one is en route! Working in-house with such a diverse and forward-thinking business means that I get involved in a lot of projects so no two days are the same!
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? When I started to look for an in-house job, I was told that I didn’t have enough legal experience. I felt confident that I would succeed in-house so I applied for a role and then got it! The initial feedback did put some doubt in my mind but it showed that if you are realistic in your own capabilities and determined, you will get there.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? Both in law and retail management, there is still more men than women in senior leadership roles. I have built up a network of strong female role models and mentors across lots of industries and roles and find that particularly helpful to share experiences and challenges of how we have each overcome obstacles or issues.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? To be a lawyer you need to have a strong academic background and to be a good in-house lawyer you need that plus business-awareness and problem-solving skills. My advice is to find opportunities to develop those skills outside of academia and then apply them in your career. For example, working out how to travel across Central America without speaking the language and with little knowledge of the transport system taught me how to quickly build relationships, remain calm in a stressful situation and analyse new information pragmatically and quickly – these are all skills I now use almost daily! Take any and all opportunities to grow and develop your experiences and you’ll find this helps you to not only decide what you do/do not enjoy and how to then reach your target career.
