Purpose in Practice: Oluwatobi Oso on Building a Legal Career with Intention
Yours Truly, TheLawyerFiles
Welcome to the tenth blog post for TheLawyerFiles!
First, thank you for subscribing. Please stay tuned for insightful interviews, expert advice, and real-life experiences from legal professionals to help you navigate your journey to becoming a solicitor. Secondly, wow! Tenth article = tenth podcast guest and it all went by so fast!
In this edition, we feature Oluwatobi Oso, a Paralegal at DWF whose legal journey is rooted in early self-discovery, disciplined growth, and a reflective approach to practice. From a high school career quiz that pointed her toward law to earning distinctions in both her LLM and LPC, Oluwatobi’s path reflects determination, balance, and the quiet confidence that comes from intentional planning and learning through experience. Her roles in both litigation and general legal practice have sharpened her attention to detail and time management—skills she pairs with a healthy understanding of how to learn from mistakes. Beyond the legal desk, Oluwatobi champions community engagement and volunteering as vital tools for personal and professional growth. Her story is a powerful reminder that purpose, humility, and proactive learning can shape a meaningful and sustainable career in law.
Let’s dive in! 🚀
Can you walk us through your journey from studying law to becoming a paralegal at DWF? What inspired you to pursue a legal career?
During High school, I completed a career quiz to identify which career suited my personality and work ethic. The results confirmed jobs such as law, government, admin. Following these results, I decided to search for legal work experience and was lucky enough to obtain three different legal work experiences during my studies.
I thoroughly enjoyed these experiences and was inspired by the lawyers I worked with. These experiences solidified my career choice, and while studying the LPC, I was confident I would find the career rewarding. This has proven to be true now that I work in law.
Having worked in both litigation and general paralegal roles, what skills or lessons have stood out across these experiences?
During my litigation role, the 3 skills which stood out to me were time management, prioritisation and attention to detail.
In a litigated role, there are many cases with competing deadlines so it’s important to be organised and plan ahead. Further, we are required to file documents are court and these documents need to be drafted and completed to a high-standard with no errors.
The main lesson I have learned from my experience is the importance of learning from mistakes. As humans, errors are inevitable, but it's crucial to learn from them and adapt to improve. If a mistake is made, we should speak up promptly to address it. While attention to detail helps prevent errors, it's also important not to be too hard on yourself and to use the experience as a learning opportunity.
You completed your LLM and LPC with distinction—what strategies helped you manage studying part-time while also working?
I planned my time constantly and had timetables every week. When I felt overwhelmed by my studies, I reduced my work hours or chose to gain more work experience to be in a less pressured environment.
Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known when you were first entering the legal profession?
I wish I knew how important it is to seek career advice while studying. This is something I have only started doing but I should have ideally started while at Uni.
How important do you think it is for aspiring legal professionals to engage in community work or volunteering?
Volunteer work is important as it offers both personal and professional benefits. Volunteering involves contributing to the community, giving back, and engaging with it. The experience is valuable and enhances legal skills, which can be added to a CV. Additionally, volunteering provides exposure to a work environment and helps build one's network.
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Oluwatobi Oso - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluwatobi-oso-0620bb10a/
Paralegal @ DWF
Thank you for reading the tenth edition of TheLawyerFiles!
I hope Oluwatobi’s journey has offered you clarity and encouragement—especially if you’re balancing work, study, or the early stages of a legal career. Her story is a reminder that purpose, preparation, and the willingness to grow through challenges can shape a fulfilling path in law. Whether managing court deadlines, pursuing academic excellence, or volunteering in her community, Oluwatobi leads with quiet discipline and a strong sense of intention—proving that success in law doesn’t always come from being loud, but from being consistent, thoughtful, and driven by purpose.
🎧 Stay tuned—our podcast episode with Tobi is coming soon, where we’ll explore her experiences in greater depth and uncover more lessons from her time at DWF. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Until next time—keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving forward with purpose. 🌍⚖️
— Denice Obeng :)