Quickfire Questions: Sophie Hamilton

What is your current role?

I am a trainee solicitor at Kennedys, a global contentious law firm, and I work in the firm’s head office in the City of London. I am currently doing my second seat in Professional Liability, following my first six months in Serious and Catastrophic Injury.

What motivates you to do what you do?

I have always prided myself on my work ethic, resilience, and interpersonal skills, so the fact that my job allows me to combine all three in a meaningful way is a source of motivation.

Sustaining a healthy work-life balance is also something I place enormous value on, and it plays a significant role in maintaining my motivation. During my time at Warwick, I learnt the value of effective time management and having a ‘work hard, play hard’ mindset. In the corporate world, I have realised that the best lawyers are driven, but also have a life outside of work to relax and do things that recharge them. For me, spending time with friends and family, and indulging in self-care enables me to perform at my best.

How has your time at Warwick influenced what you do now?

I learnt a lot during my time at Warwick, both academically and personally, which has shaped who I am as a person.

My philosophy degree challenged me intellectually and equipped me with a strong set of transferable skills which ultimately made me more employable when it came to doing training contract applications. It refined my critical thinking, research, writing, and analytical abilities, as well as my capacity to communicate complex ideas clearly - all of which I heavily relied on in my postgraduate law conversion and now do as a trainee solicitor.

On a more personal level, I felt like I found my sense of self at university. Living and studying within such a diverse, international community broadened my perspective and deepened my global awareness. I am fortunate enough to have met so many impressive individuals there, whether lecturers or peers, who inspired me to be a better person.

Why did you choose Warwick?

There were several reasons why Warwick stood out to me. Initially, I was attracted to it as a large campus university but, ultimately, it was the course itself that convinced me.

On Open Days, the Philosophy Department made a strong impression. The lecturers were passionate yet unpretentious, and current students were enthusiastic and genuinely eager to share their positive experiences. The curriculum was also unlike those I had seen offered anywhere else. Unique modules such as ‘The Philosophy of Terrorism and Counterterrorism’ and ‘The Philosophy of Evil’ blended traditional ancient philosophical concepts with contemporary real-world issues, making the course more dynamic and transferable post-graduation.

As someone with multidisciplinary interests, I relished the fact that Warwick not only let you do modules in external departments but encouraged it. Having completed Spanish at A-level, I was keen to continue studying it without committing to a joint degree. The opportunity to do 25% of my degree in the Language Centre therefore felt like an ideal fit.

Favourite memory?

One of my favourite memories was the summer term of my second year. The weather was beautiful, exams were finally behind us, and there was a real sense of optimism as we emerged from the pandemic and life began to feel normal again. I was living with friends in Leamington Spa, going out lots, having long evenings in the sun, and making the most of our newfound freedom. It genuinely felt like being on holiday, and it’s a period I look back on with a lot of gratitude and happiness.

Favourite place on campus?

My favourite place on campus was the new sports centre! It had opened just a few months before I started at Warwick and was gorgeous. I had a membership throughout my studies and loved going to the gym or sauna with friends after a busy day on campus. That said, I will give an honourable mention to the FAB and the Oculus as they were my favourite places to study on campus (or more often the case, getting distracted and carried away chatting with friends before seminars). It was impossible to go to either building without running into lots of people you know!

Sophie Hamilton

BA Philosophy, 2022