Career Stories | Saija Lukkari, Legal Assistant, IP & Technology (on rotation)

Legal Assistant Saija Lukkari has worked at Hannes Snellman since 2018. She currently works in the IP & Technology Team, but in the course of her career at Hannes Snellman, she has had the chance to gain experience from a variety of different teams and business areas.

Could you tell us about your Hannes journey?

My career at Hannes Snellman started in August 2018, when I did my study-related work placement as a legal assistant trainee in the Competition & Regulatory, Dispute Resolution, and IP & Technology Teams. After my work placement ended, I continued working as a legal assistant trainee in the Finance Team while finishing my studies. After I graduated as a Bachelor of Business Administration from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in summer 2019, I started my legal assistant career in the Competition & Regulatory and Dispute Resolution Teams. This autumn (2024), I got “back to my roots” as I started a rotation in the IP & Technology Team.

How would you describe your normal workday? What kind of matters have you been handling?

My workdays always begin with a cup of coffee, can’t start my day without one. Taskwise my to-do lists usually consist of internal meetings, assignment management, correspondence with our clients, billing, document management, and helping our lawyers with different project-related tasks. During my rotation, I have been handling mostly technology and procurement-related assignments, and it has been fun to learn more about those practices. I also feel like every workday is different from one another, but that’s what keeps the work interesting.

What is the best part about your job?

Definitely my colleagues. I find it very important to have supportive, professional and helpful colleagues to work with. Due to my background of working in various teams at Hannes Snellman, I feel like I have contacts all around the office. Another great part about my job is the fact that even though I already have a good base of knowledge and professionalism in my role as a legal assistant, I still learn new things and ways to work weekly or even daily. That being said, the second-best part in my job is that I can keep developing my professional identity and skills.

How would you describe the Hannes Snellman culture?

The culture at Hannes Snellman is all about teamwork. I feel like our employees are very hardworking and detail-oriented, and we co-operate a lot between different business areas. Our firm takes good care of its employees and understands the importance of work–life balance — even though it might be a bit challenging considering the nature of law practice. I also admire and find it really important that we have a lot of co-operation with students from different fields of study and organise a lot of different courses and visits for them.

Hannes Snellman is cooperating with Päätös, a podcast focused on decision-making, for its fifth season this spring. 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?

Saying yes to new challenges and cross-business area work. I have gained so much working experience from different business areas at Hannes Snellman by saying yes to helping other teams, got many acquaintances and lovely colleagues from various teams, and learned something new every day from them. By saying yes to new challenges, I have learned a lot about not only the profession of assistant and the legal field but also my own personal strengths and weaknesses. So even though new challenges can seem quite scary at times, going outside your comfort zone pays off!

FAVOURITE | Way of Commuting – Train | Book – The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley | Lunch – Sushi | Podcast – I don’t really listen to podcasts | Work Equipment – Two screens | Afternoon Routine – Coffee break | Mobile Application – Spotify | Relaxation Method – Live music | Work Outfit – Something comfortable | Power Song – Doomed by Bring Me The Horizon | Social Media Channel – Instagram | Drink – Pepsi Max | Weekday – Saturday | Leisure Activity – Gaming