03/04/2025 | Career News

Career Stories | Elina Aulis, KM Specialist

KM Specialist Elina Aulis has been working at Hannes Snellman for over 20 years. Before her current role as a KM Specialist in our Compliance and KM Team, Elina worked as an Assistant and as a Client Relations Coordinator.

What has your career at Hannes Snellman been like?

Most of all, it has been highly rewarding. I am extremely grateful that I have been given opportunities to closely experience different roles and duties in different business areas and support functions at Hannes Snellman. I have had the privilege to see our firm from different perspectives, and thanks to that I am able to better understand our vision, values, and way of working and appreciate my colleagues even more. At the same time, I have had the front row seat to learn to understand business life, how the economic infrastructure is built, and the role of different authorities and stakeholders in it.

In my current role I am even better positioned to cooperate with everyone throughout the firm than before. My job description comprises responsibilities that enable me to keep myself up to date and to ensure that I am continuously developing myself. The increasing use of AI and the vast amount of new and ever-changing information that is constantly at our fingertips requires judgment and the exercise of critical thinking but also open-mindedness and readiness to react quickly. So yes, my way of working has changed and it should continue to change in order not to stay treading water.

How would you describe the KM Team?

Our KM Team is absolutely the best. It is amazing to see one brilliant law student after another join the firm and the team. All of them have taught me so many things, and I continue to learn from them on a daily basis. They have fresh views and ideas and as a team we can together build on them. KM Trainees motivate me, and their contribution to the firm is invaluable. I also hope that I motivate them, and one of my favourite things in my job is to get to support these future stars!

What is the best advice you have received when it comes to your career?

It does not perhaps culminate in one particular piece of advice, but it is more the fact that I have had brilliant people around me throughout my working life, and I have been able to learn and receive advice and feedback from them on a more continuous basis. They have assisted me in forming a clearer understanding of what kind of career I would like to have.

You have experience working in different roles at Hannes. What has been the best part and what has been the most challenging part about the different roles?

The best part has been the versatility of my duties and the possibility to learn several new skills that I would not have perhaps learned if I had been working in the same position the whole time. The challenging part has been to begin each role from as clean a table as possible and not let the previous experience define my approach too much.

How has the work in a law firm developed over the years?

It has developed and changed a lot, in terms of pace and ways of working and also, if possible, towards an even more client-centric approach. Independent of your position in a law firm, you have to constantly keep developing your know-how and skills and be ready to adapt to the changing circumstances.

How would you describe Hannes Snellman’s culture?

We do things with a “client first” attitude, together, efficiently, productively, with a problem-solving approach without forgetting inclusivity, team spirit, respect, or support.

Hannes Snellman is cooperating with Päätös, a podcast focusing on decision-making. Inspired by the podcast, we would like to conclude this interview by asking you about decision-making—what would you say is the most significant decision you have made when it comes to your professional life?

Without a doubt I made my most significant career decision when I decided to follow the partner I had been working with when he made a career move to Hannes Snellman. Before that I had not really seen what it can be like when an entire workplace comprises people that are truly dedicated, visionary, take ownership, and support each other when working together. The possibilities I have been given and the learnings I have accumulated and continue to acquire at Hannes Snellman have been invaluable to me.

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