Our REAL Models series showcases the diverse range of roles we have across our business and we hope to improve knowledge around what it means to be part of something bigger. We believe being part of UUÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ means being part of the change you want to see in the world.
In this month's edition, we meet:
Simone Davidson, Head of Lexis+ UK Built Environment Group and Lexis+ UK Environment.
Simone joined the company in 2013 as an external contributor producing content for the Environment module and within a few months became a permanent part of the Professional Support Lawyer (PSL) team.
Simone said, "Before being tempted by the flexibility of working from home offered by UUÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, I'd been working in the City as an environmental lawyer, which included an interesting mix of contentious, non-contentious and regulatory matters. It's hard to imagine now, but 10 years ago working from home wasn't a concept embraced by private practice law firms. Wanting to work and also be around for my family, meant this type of working environment wasn't sustainable for me."
Now, Simone is responsible for the Built Environment Cluster in Practical Guidance which consists of managing almost 20 lawyers across six modules:
As an expert environmental lawyer, Simone is also the lead for the Environment module, an area which has seen incredible growth over the past few years as environmental issues move from the sideline to become a key area of business' strategies. This involves ensuring the module remains current, covering relevant news, laws and policy.
"My alarm goes off at 7.15 am and I try to get to my desk as soon as possible with a massive cup of tea. My husband takes the morning shift with our two kids so I can start work early, so I can finish slightly earlier to be around for the kids after school. I've had plenty of practice working from home as I was home-based pre-pandemic.
"A typical day starts with catching up on my emails from the end of the day before and adding any new items to my to-do list, to make sure nothing is missed. My to-do list is a mixture of environmental law work and Cluster Lead work, so prioritisation is essential.
"With such a big team, most days I have scheduled 1-2-1s and will have impromptu catch-ups to deal with any issues that have arisen, there are also a whole host of other projects that require my time, and I need to fit these in, along with supporting the Directors with any specific projects.
"I am also a Vice Chair for the (UKELA), so on occasion I'll take 1-2 RELX Cares hours, our company volunteering programme, to spend time there."
"I'm a very active person. Alongside parenting I enjoy lots of different types of sports, like netball, swimming, paddleboarding, table tennis, yoga and gardening, so there's lots to keep me busy! At the end of this summer, I harvested purple French beans and cucumbers and am currently eating and juicing the last of my apples.
"I'm very lucky to live where I do, surrounded by beautiful countryside. It's wonderfully grounding to watch the world turn and seasons come and go from this spot."
"After seven years working at home without video conferencing, just before lockdown in 2020 there was a Teams upgrade and a video button became available. During a 1-2-1 with a team member, I gingerly pressed the button and, I could finally see the person I was meeting with! It was a game changer."
"Connecting with such brilliant people. It's really motivating to work with such smart, driven and high-performing individuals. It's also really interesting to get exposure to different business units. This has certainly widened my knowledge of how a large business operates and means my day always has plenty of variety in it."
"Relying solely on my brain to remember my work phone passcode. Being locked out of my phone has led to frustratingly circular conversations and wasted time!"
"My peers have been my biggest support network. It might sound a little sentimental, but they've given me the confidence to be myself, so when progression opportunities have arisen, I've felt able to go for them, without pressure to try and present a version of what success might appear to look like.
"Working with strong female leaders who are combining parenting with work excellence, is also very inspiring. These women help to set a precedent for others to show it is possible to be present for your family and shine at work."
"Feel the fear and go do it anyway!"
Find out more about why you should join us and how a career with UUÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ can help you make a difference, in the community and at work.
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