Emerging legal talent and future trainee solicitor Davina Tuma shares her powerful journey into commercial law — shaped by cultural duality, values-led advocacy, and a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of legal knowledge. A must-listen episode of The Lawyer Files.
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In this episode of The Lawyer Files, I sit down with Davina Tuma — Future Trainee Solicitor at Stephenson Harwood LLP, University of Exeter law student, and former Corporate Governance Intern at HSBC. With life experiences across Kuwait, Uganda, and the UK, and a personal history shaped by legal trailblazers, Davina brings a uniquely global and empathetic perspective to her legal journey.

From witnessing her mother’s pro bono work freeing domestic workers in Kuwait to leading student-led panels on race and religion at boarding school, Davina’s story is grounded in resilience, compassion, and purpose-driven leadership.

We talk about:
✅ How growing up in a multicultural household between Kuwait and Uganda shaped her personal and legal identity
✅ The moment she realised law could be a tool for impact — and why she chose to embrace, not avoid, her parents’ legacy
✅ What her internship at HSBC taught her about corporate governance and real-world decision-making
✅ Why she chose to study Islamic law — and how cultural context informs her approach to justice
✅ How she defines leadership, and the mentors and role models who’ve shaped her values
✅ Advice for aspiring solicitors on staying authentic, strategic, and resilient through rejection
✅ Why pro bono work remains central to her legal vision — and how she hopes to use the law as a voice for the voiceless

Whether you're balancing cultural identity with career goals, trying to stay true to yourself during the application process, or learning how to lead with empathy — Davina’s story is packed with clarity, wisdom, and heart.

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