Rachel Vasilescu

Rachel is a BA Philosophy and Religion graduate who now works as a Legal Assistant at HF Limited.

What does your job involve?

I support the litigation teams by managing their workload, drafting legal documents and conduct phone calls.

Why did you choose to study your course at Manchester?

Having lived outside of the UK my whole life, The University of Manchester (UoM) looked to be the perfect choice for a balanced student and social life- which is exactly what I was looking for. Culturally as well, Manchester is filled with interesting history and gorgeous architecture. 

How did your degree help prepare you for your current role? 

I would say my degree indirectly prepared me for my current role. One of the benefits of studying humanities is that the skills gained are very versatile and transferable. Critical thinking is a skill that has come in very handy, as well as the ability to articulate myself to a high standard. I deal with important legal matters and sometimes need to convey difficult legal concepts to everyday people. 

Additionally, the multi-faceted approach of studying both philosophy and religion through different mediums has given me the ability to learn things very quickly and apply them in a way that works for me.

What has your career path looked like since graduation? 

I grew up with many ideas in my head but having done such a versatile degree, I had too many options. So, I took a year off to really bask in the glory of having achieved a 1st class degree at UoM and then I decided that I still wanted to go down the legal pathway. 

What are your personal highlights from your time studying with us? 

Having studied a joint degree, the two topics overlapped a lot in my course units. One that really stood out to me was “All About Eve” in which we learnt how the portrayal of Eve in Genesis has had a massive impact across all sorts of media, from how women are culturally and historically viewed, as well as the way in which perfumes are advertised. Being a Romanian woman that grew up in a religious family, the overlap of gender and theology was something that hit really close to home.

What are the next steps for your career? What do you hope to accomplish in the future 

As a philosophy student, I’ve learned to live life in the moment and never take each day for granted. On the other hand, I have also learnt to overthink every choice ever. And so, in the future, I hope to become a solicitor in family law. 

Being a legal assistant is the first step on the ladder, and I hope to become a litigation executive in the next year.

Do you have any advice for current/aspiring students? 

The best advice I can give is to take every opportunity thrown your way. And I mean that both academically and socially. Join that society that interests you, go on that night out with the new friends you’ve made, take that extra course unit because it was something you simply liked the sound of. My time at UoM was irreplaceable and I would genuinely do it all over again.