Andrea Constantine

Andrea graduated in 2015 (LLB English and French Law). After completing her postgraduate Legal Practice Course (LPC) with an MSc in Law, Business, and Management, Andrea worked as a paralegal before starting her training contract in 2018.

She spent six months on secondment in Singapore and qualified as an IP lawyer in 2020. Her work focuses on trade mark, copyright, and designs protection and enforcement.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

After a four year degree, I graduated from Kent in 2015 with the knowledge that I was going to go straight to the University of Law to study on the one year postgraduate LPC (Legal Practice Course) with an MSc in Law, Business and Management. I obtained my training contract during my time on the LPC, and after finishing the course in 2016, spent eighteen months or so paralegalling before starting my training contract in March 2018.

March 2019-September 2019 saw me spend six months on secondment at my firm's Singapore office, before I qualified in March 2020 into the Intellectual Property team. In fact, my first day back on the job as an associate was the first day of our first nationwide Covid lockdown! I never thought I'd start my career as a qualified lawyer dialling in on Teams from my bedroom in the house I grew up in. I stayed at that firm for 2 and a half years post qualification, before moving to Hogan Lovells in September 2022. As part of my work as an IP lawyer, I recently completed a postgraduate diploma in IP law and practice which is jointly offered by the University of Oxford and the IP Law Association.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

As an IP/Brands lawyer, my specialism is "soft IP" - that is to say, trade mark, copyright and designs protection and enforcement. I work on everything from initial trade mark clearance, filing and opposition/invalidation work at the UKIPO, to litigation - ranging anywhere from letters before action, disclosure, and preparing witness evidence to attending trials in the High Court, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, to assisting with conducting due diligence on the IP owned by target entities in mergers and acquisitions of companies.

Because of this, there is no typical work day in terms of the work I do, but I'm usually in the office 3 days a week, and my day will start with a coffee and review of emails so that I can best prioritise, and end with closing my time sheets down for the day!

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

Having spent a year abroad studying at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, I obviously picked up the bug for living abroad. Therefore it was a real career highlight when I had the opportunity to spend 6 months on secondment in Singapore as part of my training contract. Stepping off the plane was the first time I'd been to Asia, and I had a whirlwind, life changing six months.

Otherwise, qualifying as an IP lawyer after years of studying was definitely a highlight. I started at Kent Law School in September 2011 with a goal of being a city lawyer one day... and 8 and a half years later that was achieved. Which just means I'm always on the lookout for more goals to achieve...!

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

Whilst I did not study IP law at Kent, the overall approach to legal study at Kent, including critically assessing the law and considering it in its socio-economic context has been beneficial in every area of my career. I also hugely credit Per Laleng for teaching me to be short, succinct and precise in drafting - why put in a paragraph something you can say in a sentence? My clients are eternally grateful.

I was also heavily involved in extracurricular opportunities offered by the law school, which truly helped me develop confidence, time management and organisational skills - all of which have been truly beneficial in my career.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

It goes without saying that law firms are looking for academic success. However, many people have the grades, so what makes you stand out are the extra skills and experiences you can bring to the table. There are so many opportunities on offer both in and outside of the seminar room or lecture hall, whether that is attending talks and guest lectures, attending events hosted by the law societies, or getting involved in mooting, negotiation, or the law clinic. Don't underestimate transferrable skills - I spoke at length during my training contract interview about a part-time role I had in retail and the skills I'd acquired from it - and don't try and be someone you're not.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

Yes - I was social secretary of the Kent Student Law Society in my second year, and president of the same society in my final year. I was also a student ambassador and course representative in my final year, and did optional modules in negotiation and mediation. It's been nine years since I graduated, and I still come back down to Canterbury most years to attend KSLS' annual law dinner.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

I loved my time as president of KSLS - I was a fourth year law student and a lot of my friends had graduated when I was on my year abroad, so it was a lot of fun to throw myself back into the law school community. The highlight would be our annual black tie dinner held at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge. 'My' dinner coincided with the 10 year anniversary of the society, so as a committee we had put a lot of effort in, and the event was (luckily!) a great success.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

Maybe concentrating a little harder in my 9am lectures..? But honestly, no - I learnt so much both academically and personally from my time at Kent, and I wouldn't change any of it.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

A couple of years ago, I was a bridesmaid for a friend of mine who I lived with in my final year in Canterbury, and who was marrying another friend who she met during our time at UKC, and I'm now an honorary auntie to their children!

I also come back to Kent almost every year to attend the KSLS annual black tie dinner - and am so proud to see two of my former classmates, Emek Delibas and Guevara Leacock, are now extremely popular academics at Kent Law School!

I still see a few other friends socially over a post-work glass of wine..!

What are your future ambitions?

To keep progressing in my career as an IP lawyer and not to plan too far ahead..!