Ruby Doyle

I’m Ruby, and I am a Solicitor Apprentice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, an international law firm headquartered in New York with offices around the world. I joined the London office as part of Weil’s very first cohort of solicitor apprentices, which has been an incredibly exciting and unique experience from the very beginning.

As part of the apprenticeship, we rotate through a range of seats across the firm, beginning with several months in two different Business Services teams before moving into our first Legal seat. This rotation gives us a broad understanding of how the firm operates as a whole before we begin focusing on legal work. During the first four years of the apprenticeship, we spend four days each week working in the firm and one day on paid study leave while completing an undergraduate law degree. Our legal seats typically last one year, and we continue rotating through different practice areas until we complete the SQE and join the same pathway as that year’s trainee cohort.

I am currently in my second year of the apprenticeship, doing a seat in Finance. The other seats I have done so far have been two Business Services seats for six weeks each (Accounts; Business Development & Events), and a nine-month seat in Disputes and Investigations. Each of these seats has given me a different perspective on how the firm works and the kinds of matters we handle.

My typical day-to-day consists of trainee-level tasks, supporting on transactional matters such as reviewing transaction documents, conducting research, and drafting. The work is varied and no two days look exactly the same, which keeps things interesting and means I am always learning something new.

My Disability

I am autistic and have dyspraxia, both of which I was diagnosed with when I was in primary school. These are conditions I have lived with for as long as I can remember, and they are very much a part of who I am. Autism particularly affects my day-to-day working life in a number of ways. I can become overstimulated quite easily, particularly in busy or noisy environments, and the commute into the office can be genuinely difficult for me. Having to pay constant attention while dealing with the crowds, noise, and unpredictability of public transport means that I’m often already quite exhausted by the time I reach my desk, before the working day has even begun. This is heightened by my dyspraxia, which affects my coordination and spatial awareness, making moving around in crowded and fast-paced environments particularly challenging.

I also tend to need instructions and feedback to be given to me more directly than might be typical. I work best when communication is clear, specific, and straightforward, rather than relying on implication or subtlety. If I know exactly what is expected of me and how to prioritise my tasks, I can perform at my best. Social nuance doesn’t always come naturally to me either, which can sometimes make navigating everyday workplace dynamics and interactions more challenging than people might realise.

The Recruitment Process

I was open about my disability throughout the recruitment process, but one of the reasons I picked Weil was that their process was so accessible even without making tailored adjustments. There was no impersonal psychometric testing (which in some cases tests areas such as how you approach social situations, and is therefore inherently less accessible to neurodivergent people), and there was a call before the assessment centre to help me understand the schedule and timings of the day so that I knew what to expect. The front-of-house staff on the day itself were also incredibly welcoming, which helped to put me at ease.

At Work

Through the university portion of the apprenticeship, I have been able to access tailored support for my exams and classes from a disability coach, which has made a real difference to how I manage my studies alongside my work at the firm.

My line manager has been approachable and understanding, creating space for open and honest conversation around the impact of my disability and how it affects my work. The Early Careers team is also constantly available for discussion and regular check-ins where necessary, and is able to talk to your supervisors on your behalf if needed, which provides an additional layer of support.

We have a disability inclusion network at Weil called WeilAccessAbility, which is open to all. The network is active and constantly working to make various aspects of the firm more accessible for everyone. There are also partner champions within the network, so there is clear senior involvement and a genuine commitment to disability inclusion from the top of the firm.

Skills and Strengths

I approach things differently to many of my peers, and I see that as a genuine strength. I can be hyper-focused on a task and work on it with sustained concentration for an extended period of time, which is particularly useful when dealing with detailed or complex documents. I am also good at looking at things objectively and analytically, without being swayed by assumptions or convention.

Advice

• Focus on the additional skills your disability gives you and think about how those can benefit a role or an organisation.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need in the recruitment process.
• Consider all routes into law. The solicitor apprenticeship gave me the chance to learn on the job from day one, gaining practical experience alongside my academic studies, and being part of the first cohort at Weil has been a genuinely rewarding experience.
• Day to day in the workplace, be open with your supervisors about what you might struggle with more than someone without a similar disability. When they understand why and how you might struggle, reasonable adjustments can be made, and there is space for understanding and support that benefits everyone.