“People need to see people like themselves”: Jason Sinclair on social mobility and a career in law

For many people, a career in law is something they've known about from an early age. For Jason Sinclair, now a trainee solicitor at Muckle, it wasn't even on his radar.

Originally from Bristol, Jason was the first person in his family to go to university. Growing up, he says, a legal career wasn't something that was talked about at school or at home.

"I didn't really know that being a solicitor was an option," says Jason. "It wasn't a career that was visible to me when I was younger."

That changed when he started studying A-level Law at college.

Pathways to law

"I chose law because it sounded interesting," he explains. "I enjoyed it straight away, and my tutor noticed that I seemed to have a natural aptitude for it."

His tutor encouraged him to apply for Pathways to Law, a social mobility programme run by the Sutton Trust that supports high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in studying law.

To be eligible, students must meet a range of criteria relating to social mobility, including postcode data, free school meal eligibility, and whether they are the first generation in their family to attend university.

The programme set Jason on his career path in law.

"Once a month, I would go to the University of Bristol for legal lectures and activities. It gave me a real insight into what studying law at university would be like and what would be expected of me.

"The scheme really opened my eyes. It made university feel accessible and achievable. Before that, I don't think I had fully considered it as something that was available to me."

The experience led to an offer from the University of Bristol. Jason also secured a place through the Access to Leeds scheme, a widening participation programme designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds into higher education and ultimately chose to study law at the University of Leeds.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”

Looking back, Jason says one of the biggest challenges wasn't the law itself.

"The academic side of law was never the issue. What was harder was understanding everything around it.

"People from more connected backgrounds often had more knowledge about how the profession worked. They knew about work experience, placements, networking and applications. I had to figure a lot of that out myself. But social mobility schemes like Pathways to Law helped with that."

That experience is one of the reasons social mobility remains so important to him today.

"When I was growing up, people would often say it's who you know, not what you know. That can be a real barrier if nobody in your family has connections in the profession.

"I do think that's changing. The legal profession is much more aware of the barriers that exist, and firms are making a conscious effort to improve access."

Alongside Pathways to Law, Jason also took part in Pathways Plus while at university, helping him bridge the gap between studying law and entering the profession. At university, he volunteered at Pathways to Law, giving back to the programme that helped him begin his own legal journey.

"It feels important to support the next generation because those opportunities genuinely changed the direction of my career."

Why a career in law?

Jason is now in the second seat of his training contract at the firm, working in our sports, education and charities team, having previously completed a seat in corporate.

What attracted him to law was the balance between working with people and solving problems.

"I've always liked that mix. At school, I enjoyed drama because I'm quite outgoing, but I also liked computer science because it's logical and analytical."

"Law combines those things. You need to be confident speaking to clients and building relationships, but you also need to be detail-focused and enjoy problem-solving."

After studying and working elsewhere, Jason made the move to the North East after regularly visiting friends who lived in the region.

"I loved the North East and wanted to build my career here."

Working at Muckle

Muckle stood out for more than just its reputation.

"When I was applying for placements and training opportunities, it was important to me that a firm had a genuine commitment to social mobility.

"I spoke openly about my background during the application process, and it was really well received at Muckle. The firm's values aligned with my own, and it was encouraging to see that reflected in practice."

The move from a global law firm employing thousands of lawyers to our team of around 200 people has also given him opportunities to make a meaningful impact much earlier in his career.

"At Muckle, I've been able to build relationships with clients, get involved in a wide variety of work and even run my own pro bono file with supervision.

"The community aspect of the firm is something I really value. Law isn't a solitary profession. Everyone is working towards the same goal, and your background becomes much less important than your contribution and commitment."

Why is social mobility important?

Jason quickly became involved in Muckle's social mobility work.

"One of the first things I asked when I joined was how I could support the firm's social mobility initiatives."

Today, he regularly attends school careers fairs and outreach events, helping raise awareness of law as a career option.

"People need to be visible. Young people need to see people like themselves working in these professions.

"If nobody around you works in law, it's much harder to imagine yourself doing it."

Being the first person in his family to go to university has also had a wider impact closer to home. Since Jason started his degree, four of his cousins have gone on to attend university themselves, including one who studied law.

"I think once someone in the family does it, it becomes a lot more tangible for everyone else," says Jason. "Suddenly, university doesn't feel like this unknown thing anymore."

While he may not have had family members to turn to when making decisions about higher education, Jason has been able to provide that support for others.

"A lot of the help I've given hasn't been about the academic side. It's been the things people don't always talk about, how the application process works, what accommodation is like, what to expect when you move away from home and start university life."

He adds, "One of my cousins went on to study law after me, so it was nice to share some of my experiences and answer questions that I wish I'd had someone to answer when I was applying. Sometimes having somebody who's already been through it can make a huge difference."

The North East Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme

Improving access to the legal profession forms an important part of our wider social mobility strategy. We are a founding member of the North East Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme (NESA), which was created to provide an alternative route into law and widen access to the profession for talented young people from all backgrounds.

The solicitor apprenticeship route allows individuals to qualify as solicitors while earning a salary and gaining practical experience, helping to remove some of the financial barriers traditionally associated with legal careers.

We also run an employability programme called Inspiring Careers. The programme, delivered in partnership with Mortal Fools, is a unique opportunity designed specifically for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (aged 14 – 16). The aim of the programme is to raise aspirations, build confidence, and provide students with practical, transferable skills that will support them in any future career path. 

Although solicitor apprenticeships were not available when Jason was making decisions about his future, he believes he would have seriously considered the route.

"If the apprenticeship pathway had existed when I was leaving school, I definitely would have considered it.

"It gives people another way into the profession and helps remove barriers that might otherwise put them off pursuing law."

Alongside his role as a trainee solicitor, Jason is involved in our Diversity and Inclusion team, Muckle Runners, and externally the Junior Lawyers Division and the Young Professionals Forum.

For him, social mobility is about ensuring talent and ambition are not limited by background.

"There are brilliant people everywhere. The key is making sure they know these opportunities exist and helping them access them."

"If someone from a similar background to mine reads this and thinks a career in law could be for them, then that's a positive step."

For more information about what it's like to work at Muckle, visit our careers page.