Courage at King's: Q&A with Cai Cherry (LLB, 2021)

Why did you decide to study Law at King’s and what experiences did you gain beyond your academic studies?

While King’s was the only London university I applied to, looking back I don’t think I would ever have wanted to study law somewhere else. Not only do you get to study at a world-renowned university under people who are creating the law themselves by arguing cases and being cited in judgments, but you get to live in one of the world’s greatest cities too.

I was incredibly fortunate to work on the Global Media Freedom Initiative where we were responsible for drafting reports on the current state of media freedom laws around the world and on worldwide defamation and misinformation. I was able to meet incredible people like Nobel laureate Maria Ressa and former UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye, and develop strategies and recommendations to protect freedom of the press in the 21st Century.

I also took part in mooting competitions on areas of law that I had never studied before (including drugs, BDSM and child sexual abuse) and develop skills of advocacy and drafting.

I also served as the Diversity and Welfare representative for a society’s committee and organised events on Black History Month and how to make London more inclusive.

Tell us about your involvement with MyPlus and receiving an award at the 2022 MyPlus Disability Progress Awards.

In my first year at university, I lost the ability to walk. One day, I was fine and the next I couldn’t stand up. In my second year, I received an email from the King’s Careers Service about an organisation called MyPlus. It advertised itself as for disabled students seeking a career in law, which was me, and so I registered.

I have a lot to thank MyPlus for, including introducing me to my firm, DLA Piper, and for giving me practical, simple advice on application processes, and how to disclose disabilities and ask for reasonable adjustments.

I was lucky enough to be asked by DLA Piper to represent them at ‘Explore the Law’ events and have spoken to our “LDC” paralegal team and to trainees and apprentices about my disability journey. I have continued to work with MyPlus and other disability organisations to support the careers of disabled people like me by speaking at events, writing articles and blog posts, and providing pro bono legal support as part of my job as a lawyer.

What assisted you most in securing a role with DLA Piper?

Whenever I speak to potential applicants and aspiring lawyers, I always encourage them to be very honest with themselves about their answers. No law firm tries to trick its applicants by asking “Why us?” And you genuinely do have a reason why you applied there, you just need to work at explaining it in a sentence or two.

I think the main reason why I was offered a training contract is because I didn’t try to be something I wasn’t. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I had a number of mini pupillages and was working on the Media Freedom Initiative – and I definitely recommend everyone tries to get as much legal experience as possible! – but I was very honest with DLA about why law, why DLA, and why me.

I told them about the genuine ethical concerns I would have working for clients who perpetuated systemic injustices. I told them about my experience as a queer person, and I told them about the friends and family who supported me. I told DLA the truth that, because of my chronic pain, I’m often too distracted to say anything other than exactly what I think, and the truth that my disabilities have made me work harder than ever before just to keep up with where I was.

What are you now working towards?

I am currently working towards my goal of being admitted as a lawyer in the US. I have taken the New York Bar Exam and am looking forward to being able to practice law in both England and America.

I’m also working as a trainee solicitor at DLA Piper, now in my third seat, and am a representative in London for our LGBTQ+ network ‘Iris’. I do a lot of pro bono work supporting everything from queer asylum seekers in partnership with Rainbow Migration to advising humanitarian organisations on sanctions compliance when delivering aid to the Middle East.

I’m not entirely sure what the future holds, but if I’m practicing law, travelling, and sleeping enough, I’ll be pretty happy. I also intend to buy a goldfish soon.