Join our panel of speakers as they discuss the opportunities and challenges of a career in law, drawing on their range of experience to reflect upon the diverse range of career choices and the skills required to succeed.
‘Perspectives’ is a series of free, public lectures hosted by Bolton School. They are free to attend and open to pupils in Year 9 and above, parents, alumni, and all other members of the School and local community.
Speakers:
Christie O’Connell - Class of 2016
Christie is a barrister specialising in matrimonial finance work at 1 Hare Court in London.
Prior to being called to the Bar in 2022, she studied in the Theology department at King’s College London and completed the Graduate Diploma in Law in Manchester.
Alongside her work as a barrister, she has spent periods of time on secondment at law firms Mishcon de Reya and Katz Partners LLP, advising in their high net worth divorce departments. She also sits on the committees for the Inner Temple Junior Barristers Association and FreeBar, the Bar’s LGBTQIA+ organisation.
Matt Ashforth – Class of 2003
Matt is an in-house lawyer who has worked in a variety of organisations, including a property developer and leisure operator in Dubai (Dubai Holding), an airport (Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai) and as Head of Legal at Everton Football Club. Later this year he will take up a position in a senior role in the legal team at Aston Villa Football Club. Matt started his career in private practice in Manchester in 2010, as a litigator at DAC Beachcroft, and later worked at Eversheds Sutherland in both Manchester and Dubai, before his first move in house. Matt's journey to work in football has been an unusual one, given his early background in litigation, and he considers that this demonstrates the value of being flexible in your career and looking to seek out opportunity. Matt is very proud of his education at Bolton School and is looking forward to sharing his career experiences with students.
Angeli Kapadia nee Vadera – Class of 2007
In house lawyer at AXA.
Andrew Lee - Class of 2017
After leaving Bolton School in 2017, Andy studied Classics at the University of Oxford, before going on to complete an MPhil in Classics at the University of Cambridge. Having really enjoyed participating in the Mock Law Trials with Bolton, he decided to explore a career in law further by taking part in several mini-pupillages and vacation schemes, and obtained a training contract with Eversheds Sutherland to commence in 2024. He completed a law conversion course last year, and is currently completing the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations, before moving to London to begin the training contract this September.
