Naomi Tonge
Current Employer/Organisation Name
The Family Law Company
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
Following leaving Exeter I went straight into the legal sector as a Legal Secretary, specialising in Family Law. For me, I wanted to get real life experience at a entry level position and this has been invaluable in helping me decide where to do my training contract.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I chose to specialise in family law as it is a real people focused practice area. Unlike other areas of law, you have to develop emotional intelligence and have an understanding of trauma / human nature, as you are dealing with families at their most difficult time. Many of the clients I help have been victims of Domestic Abuse and it can be challenging to process the things you hear, but, there a real sense of achievement when you have helped them find a way through.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
The environment at Exeter University was encouraging and welcoming, the physical location is calm and peaceful and I always liked the way it tradition alongside state of the art facilities. Plus the city centre is only a short walk away.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
I most enjoyed discovering family law and human rights law.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
It appealed to me because despite being a Russel Group University, it still had a community feel. It was also great to have this university in the County where I lived.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
People skills have definitely helped me make better connections, don’t underestimate the value of soft skills, when you enter the business community you will have to interact with different people at different levels and working on these early on makes it feel less daunting.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Don’t be afraid to take every opportunity that comes your way, and never let a fear of failure stop you.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to qualify as a family law solicitor and continue to help families when they most need it. The legal field evolves constantly and i look forward to maybe playing a small part in making it better for those going through the family justice system.
