Staff proﬁles: Legal eye on Gabriela Alexandru

Name: Gabriela Alexandru

Position: Paralegal, Corporate Department

Main responsibilities and daily duties?

I am a fee earner within the corporate department, mainly supporting our senior fee earners and trying to develop my own skills and knowledge while doing so. My responsibilities are therefore quite diverse and I like to see my role as fluid, to better match each client’s individual needs and interests. Some common examples of my daily duties would include anything from research on a particular point of law or policy update, acting as an intermediary for the client on their matters, or drafting and reviewing documents.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in law?

Several things led to my love of law as whole, from the sociological aspect of law as a framework governing every aspect of our everyday lives, to the complexities of language involved which provide an endless source of challenge. But even beyond these aspects, as clichéd as it may sound, the core of why I decided to pursue law lays with the realisation that my work helps my clients, and that I can perhaps make their lives that little bit easier. I would say that it is the reward provided by this knowledge that solidified my decision to practice law.

If you were not in this job, what would you be doing?

Were I not practicing law, I would probably be an author, due to my passion for languages (Gabriela is a native Romanian speaker) and literature in general; or perhaps it would involve microbiology, such as a researcher or laboratory technician, building on my background in sciences and biology and my interest in the natural world.

What changes would you like to see happen in the law in the next 10-20 years?

It would be interesting to see how the law adapts to changes in technology, especially with regards to how intellectual property handles digital formats and exploits, and environmental issues, which are already becoming an increasing concern with policymakers. It is quite clear that the legal profession is increasingly accepting of digital methods, which in itself will undoubtedly lead to increased efficiency and better results for clients. In summary, I believe the main changes would involve a modernisation of the profession as a whole, in both contentious and non-contentions areas.

Hobbies / what do you like doing in your spare time?

I am very devoted to my family and pets, but also an avid reader and photographer. Having just finished my LPC, I am now trying to learn a couple new languages, and I am starting to explore my passion for travelling, especially to places with historical or literary significance.