Profiles
"Over three years I've worked in a variety of business areas."
Charlie
Customer
Analysis
Programme
Reena
Legal Services
LLB with French Law, Kingston University
Postgraduate Diploma in EC Competition Law, King's College London
Joined Tesco August 2006
When people think of Tesco the first thing of they think of is its grocery business. But it's a diverse company. And that's reflected in each of the seats you do as part of your training contract - competition, intellectual property, contracts, trading law, litigation, data protection and disability discrimination.
My first seat was in the contracts team. This gave me excellent experience, drafting interesting sponsorship and magazine publishing agreements and contracts with celebrities. Now, I'm in the intellectual property team, protecting our trade marks and other intellectual property both in the UK and worldwide. We also try and make sure that we don't infringe the intellectual property rights of others. It's great to see all the new products that are about to be launched and advise on packaging or clothing ranges.
The work is hugely varied and you learn how to prioritise a continually expanding and changing workload. I deal with a variety of people on a daily basis from store staff to members of the Board. In the legal team you're always given an opportunity to get involved in whatever appeals to you. I've helped set up two new community projects - pro bono work and helping with conservation projects in Lee Valley Park.
I couldn't have hoped for a better training contract and once I qualify, I want to stay at Tesco. Whichever area of law I go into, I know that if I want to change my specialism, I can. I also know that if, at some point I decide that I don't want to be a lawyer any more, I can explore opportunities elsewhere in the business.