Her journey officially began in 2008, but the lesson she wishes to share comes from a conversation with a friend. This friend, a physiotherapist, faced months of rejections, interviews with no offers, and the crushing weight of self-doubt before landing three job offers at once. Her words, “I wish I had enjoyed the journey more,” struck a deep chord with Delaina.
How often do we allow ourselves to appreciate the struggle? We focus on the “what-ifs” and the unknowns, rarely pausing to recognise the strength we build along the way. For Delaina, this realisation became a guiding principle in her own career—one that has taken her through incredible highs and equally challenging lows.
The Dream Begins
Growing up in Leicester, Delaina knew she wanted to be a lawyer from the age of ten. Inspired by her love for public speaking and fuelled by a challenging home life, she saw the legal profession as her path to making a difference.
Delaina was steered towards academia by her West Indian parents, a London-born NHS Senior Midwife and a self-made Dominican upholsterer, who encouraged Delaina to be dedicated to her studies and join in wider community activities. She didn’t come from privilege, and the odds were often stacked against her, but she had two invaluable tools: hard work and persistence.
Delaina pursued a four-year LLB Law degree, specialising in International and European Law. She thrived academically, winning the prestigious Slaughter & May Mooting Competition and earning a scholarship for a summer placement at a German law firm. She studied abroad, splitting her time between Bucerius Law School in Hamburg and Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Her ambitions were clear—she was going to make it.
With no option to take a gap year, she moved straight into the rigorous Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at Nottingham Trent University. In 2013, at just 23 years old, she was Called to the Bar as an Unregistered Barrister at Inner temple, London.
The Climb Begins
Completing legal studies can feel like reaching base camp at Everest—an achievement in itself, but only the beginning of an even greater climb. Delaina’s journey to practice rights took another ten years.
She applied for pupillage for five years, and when making it to final rounds often lost out to more experienced solicitors. But she didn’t give up. She gained experience in private practice at Irwin Mitchell and Thompsons Solicitors, volunteered in community justice projects, and worked in the public sector in housing law. Every setback made her stronger, every detour added to her skills.
Then, in 2019, she discovered CILEX. Seeing that her BPTC studies gave her an exemption from exams was a moment of relief. She became a Graduate Member—Step 1 of a clearer, more attainable path to her goal.
Pushing Through the Challenges
Step 2 proved more difficult than expected. She spent two years battling for her Qualifying Employment (QE) reference. When she finally received it, she submitted her QE application in September 2022, followed by her Fellow Portfolio in November. In January 2023, while off sick, she received the news that she had become a CILEX Fellow. That moment of triumph was the motivation she needed to keep pushing forward.
Returning to work, she handed in her resignation. It was time for a bold new step—becoming a Locum Senior Civil Litigation and Housing Consultant Practitioner.
Step 3 followed quickly. She applied for CILEX Lawyer, Litigator, and Advocate status, working long nights to perfect her submission. In May 2023, after months of waiting, she was recognised as a CILEX Lawyer in Civil Litigation and Advocacy. The climb had been gruelling, but she had reached her professional summit.
The Celebration and Beyond
In October 2023, Delaina stood in her graduation robes, celebrating her achievements. The audience included her incredibly proud dad aged 90, and young sibling, an aspiring Avionics Engineer and Pilot whose unwavering support to Delaina is invaluable. A moment of reflection turned into a new ambition when her family, inspired by her journey, encouraged her to take on leadership within CILEX. In 2024, when CILEX opened its Professional Board recruitment, she applied—and was successful. In July, she officially joined the Board, and in October, she had the honour of congratulating new graduates on their own journeys.
But is the climb over? Absolutely not.
A Message for the Future
Delaina’s story is one of grit and determination, but also of learning to embrace the journey. She urges others to own their struggles, to find joy even in the toughest moments, and to never stop pushing forward.
She takes inspiration from Viola Davis who, when giving a speech to US graduates in 2019, said “Your existence is an amalgamation of every triumph, every hard-won battle.” From Rumi: “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are an entire ocean, in a single drop.” And from Nelson Mandela who said, "It always seems impossible, until it's done."
So, to aspiring lawyers, to those struggling through uncertainty, and to anyone facing obstacles in their path, Delaina leaves this simple message:
“Wherever you go. Whatever you decide to do. Don’t forget to enjoy the journey along the way.”