"Being curious, staying open, and allowing your interests to evolve can lead you exactly where you need to be."

Associate Emma Långström from our Dispute Resolution practice reflects on her career journey, from starting as a Knowledge Management Trainee to becoming an Associate. She discusses how her traineeships provided the opportunity to write both her bachelor’s and master’s theses while refining her legal research skills. Emma highlights how her academic work, particularly her thesis on deepfakes, intersected with her professional experience, shaping her approach to complex legal challenges.

How has your career been so far, and how did you end up at Krogerus?

Becoming a lawyer was something I wrote down as my dream job already in preschool. I’m not sure where the idea came from, but it stayed with me over the years, despite many other career dreams along the way. Looking back, that early instinct wasn’t entirely off. I’ve always been interested in people, in how things work, and in trying to make sense of complex situations, so law was a natural fit, even if I didn’t realise it immediately.

When I started studying law at Åbo Akademi University in 2019, I had a clear plan, but I was also open to changing it. And I did, more than once. I’ve never believed that you need to know exactly what you want to do from the outset. For me, it has been more valuable to stay curious, explore different options, and learn by doing. That mindset led me to combine my studies with several trainee roles, student advocacy work, and hands-on experience across a variety of legal settings.

I first joined Krogerus in 2022 as a Knowledge Management Trainee. The role gave me the chance to do legal research for different practice groups and gain a better understanding of how legal work is approached across the firm. What stood out early on was how approachable everyone was. People took the time to explain things, and no question felt too small. That same atmosphere has continued in every role I’ve had since. People at Krogerus take the work seriously, but there is always room for a laugh, which makes a real difference in everyday work.

Over time, I realised that dispute resolution was the area that suited me best. The constant variation, the strategic thinking, and the opportunity to learn something new in every case made it a great match for me. I worked as an Associate Trainee in the Dispute Resolution team before spending a few months abroad at the Finnish Embassy in the Netherlands. After returning, I rejoined Krogerus as an Associate in the same team.

Not everything in my journey has been pre-planned, and that is something I’ve come to value. My path so far has shown me that it is completely fine not to have all the answers right away. Being curious, staying open, and allowing your interests to evolve can lead you exactly where you need to be.

How did your traineeships at Krogerus support your thesis writing and improve the research process?

I wrote both my bachelor’s and master’s theses during my traineeships at Krogerus. The roles, especially in Knowledge Management, really sharpened my legal research skills. I got used to finding and filtering information quickly, which made the thesis work feel a lot more manageable. Having that routine from work helped me stay structured and focused, and the research tasks I did on the job often aligned surprisingly well with what I was writing about.

What inspired you to choose your thesis topic?

My master’s thesis focused on deepfakes and the challenges they pose as evidence in legal proceedings. I’ve always been interested in how law responds to new technologies and phenomena, and deepfakes felt like a topic that was both current and legally complex. I was curious about what happens when something that looks real isn’t, and how courts are expected to handle that.

It raised interesting questions about authenticity, reliability, and legal certainty. The lack of clear answers made it a challenging topic, but also one that pushed me to think critically and approach legal research from different angles.

How did writing your thesis help develop skills for your legal career?

Working on my thesis definitely helped build skills that I use in my day-to-day work. Legal research became a natural part of how I approach problems, and writing about a topic like deepfakes, where there are not always clear answers, taught me how to navigate legal uncertainty. It also made me more confident in structuring arguments and tackling new or unfamiliar subjects, which has been especially useful in dispute resolution, where cases can vary widely.

Piece of advice you would give an aspiring lawyer

• Stay curious. You don’t need to have it all figured out from the start. Staying curious and open are some of the best ways to learn and grow. Trusting your intuition as you go can help you recognise what feels like the right fit. Often, the only way to find out what works for you is by trying different things.
• Learn by doing. Academic knowledge is important, but many skills develop through hands-on experience. Try different roles and fields, ask plenty of questions, and don’t be afraid to get involved.
• Be you. You don’t have to change who you are to succeed in this field. Focus on building your own way of working, stay grounded in what matters to you, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine. It makes everything more meaningful and more sustainable.