Personal profiles, professional insights: Becky Munday, Associate – Construction

She admits. “But when I qualified, it signalled that all of the hard work and the challenges leading up to that point were worth it.”

What first inspired you to pursue law?

Like many, Becky’s first career ambition bore little resemblance to the one she ultimately chose. “I actually had ideas on becoming a vet,” she says, until school subjects made her rethink. “Science wasn’t my favourite… so the idea fizzled out over the years.”

Law, however, clicked instantly. Through conversations with her mother, who had previously studied law, Becky recognised qualities in herself – analytical thinking, communication, problem-solving – that aligned naturally with the profession.

Yet construction law wasn’t on her radar at all. “It’s going to sound awful, but I didn’t actually know construction was a practice area until I saw the job role and applied for it,” she laughs.

One fond early memory is of sitting in the Southampton office car park before her interview, hurriedly Googling what ‘JCT’ stood for. “It makes me laugh now because I come across JCT contracts nearly on a daily basis.”

Construction law soon proved to be a perfect match. “It brings together lots of different areas of law – contract, litigation, property… and you get to meet such a wide cross-section of the industry.”

You took a non-traditional route into qualification. What challenges did that bring?

Becky’s route to becoming a solicitor was anything but conventional. She qualified first as a Chartered Legal Executive before completing the additional requirements to become a solicitor.

“I didn’t know anybody else who had qualified in this way… it’s not a particularly well-known route,” she explains. “That was a challenge in itself because people didn’t really understand the process.”

Her journey included:

• An undergraduate degree with a placement year at Bournemouth University
• Distance learning with CILEx Law School
• Studying for the LPC on a part-time basis with the University of Law, Guildford
• All while working full-time
• And navigating the illness of a close family member

“It felt almost impossible at times,” she reflects. “And I was also facing criticism from those who didn’t understand the route and didn’t think I was up to it.”

But it is precisely these obstacles that make her qualification one of her proudest achievements.

How did it feel when you finally qualified as a solicitor?

“Amazing,” she says simply. “I qualified on New Year’s Day 2024. I was sat with my family and partner, feverishly checking my emails whilst having half an eye on the New Year’s countdown on TV… and when the certificates came through, it was such a huge relief.”

It marked not just a professional milestone, but the vindication of years of persistence, self-belief, and resilience.

What do you enjoy most about your role today?

For Becky, variety is key. “No two days are the same,” she says. “I’ve worked on lots of different things, from leisure centres to car dealership showrooms, and for clients ranging from supermarkets to banks.”

One of the unique joys of construction, she explains, is seeing the tangible results of your work.

This sense of connection to the built environment began during a university placement with a local authority planning department. A supervisor took her on a walking tour, pointing out completed projects:

“From that point, it’s been difficult for me not to mentally do the same. I walk around looking at project and think, ‘I worked on that.’”

What are the biggest challenges in your role?

“Managing competing deadlines and client expectations,” Becky says without hesitation.

Each client prioritises their own objectives, so organisation and clarity are essential.

Her approach rests on understanding clients’ commercial drivers. “Once you know that, it becomes easier to prioritise… Some matters have long lead-in periods, others require immediate focus.”

Communication is central:

What keeps you motivated?

Becky describes herself as “a bit of a perfectionist.” She smiles acknowledging the cliché:

“Some may say it’s both a blessing and a curse… but in law, I think it’s quite a natural attribute.”

Meeting deadlines, providing high-quality work, and not leaving things unfinished are powerful personal drivers.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

Becky’s life outside the office is impressively active. She has been a scuba diver for nearly two years and is also a long-time ballroom and Latin dancer.

“Think Strictly – but with nowhere near as much finesse,” she jokes.

Weekends often involve dives with local clubs exploring sites on Dorset’s coastline; Thursday nights are for dance classes. She also dives abroad, exploring sites in Mexico, Malta, Egypt, and beyond. One personal highlight was diving in a Mexican cenote:

“For someone who isn’t keen on the dark or confined spaces, it was a personal challenge… I was petrified before getting in, but once I’d acclimatised, it was an amazing experience.”

She credits Blake Morgan’s culture for supporting genuine balance.

She speaks warmly of the construction team and singles out the support of Richard Wade, who championed her qualification journey and modelled a healthy approach to work and rest.

“Before I’d go on leave, he’d say, ‘You’re not taking your phone with you – go away and recharge.’ It was refreshing to hear that from a law firm.”

How did your recent promotion to Associate come about?

Progression, Becky explains, came through developing strong client relationships and building broad experience.

For years she has worked closely with the London Banking & Finance team, assisting with due diligence reviews for development finance transactions. “I took that aspect of work on while still studying… It gave me a solid basis for learning more about construction contracts, and the relationship has gone from strength to strength.” The fact that she has also been encouraged to delegate to junior members of the team from when she started her studies has also made a difference. “I’ve been encouraged from an early stage to delegate to junior members of the team and involve them in as much as I can. That’s always felt like such a full-circle moment because it wasn’t that long ago that I was in their shoes and it’s nice to be able to ‘give back’, but it’s also enabled me to continue my own progression by looking at more complex matters.”

The promotion felt like an important next step:

“Once I’d done my first year as a solicitor, I realised there were other ways I could progress besides study, which had been my main focus for so long… Being promoted gave me the confidence boost that qualification had been the right thing.”

What advice would you give aspiring solicitors?

Becky offers two pieces of advice:

1. Don’t fear alternative routes.
   “The route I took wasn’t the one I originally planned, but it ended up suiting me far more… Don’t let the fear of the unknown put you off.”
2. Don’t give up.
   “Qualification isn’t designed to be an easy process, but when you get there, it’s so worth it… You’ve got to be in it for the long haul.”

Becky’s career to date is a story of determination, adaptability and enthusiasm – whether mastering construction law, navigating complex deadlines, or challenging herself underwater in a cenote. Her reflections offer reassuring clarity: success rarely follows a straight line, but for those with commitment, curiosity and resilience, the journey is every bit as meaningful as the destination.