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From genetics PhD to keeping up with the Kardashians

By Alex Aldridge on

Transferable skills have been key on this journey

A year ago Emily Hinkley was working on the “development of single cell sequencing technology and platforms in a high-throughput environment” as part of her genetics PhD at the University of Bonn. But fast forward 12 months and the former academic’s world has changed greatly.

“It’s a very different life that I now lead,” she says. Having just filed her latest Legal Cheek article, ‘ULaw student eyes Miss England crown’, Hinkley pauses momentarily, before continuing:

“The opportunity I had in Bonn to use novel technologies to elucidate cellular heterogeneity and deliver new approaches to human health and disease — more specifically, single cell technologies in my work on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease in the context of early diagnostics and therapeutic targets — ultimately delivered a great deal of transferable skills that have been instrumental in helping me to craft my series of Miss England and Miss Universe articles.”

And it doesn’t stop there. The genetics PhD also gave Hinkley a unique take as she revealed that Kim Kardashian — the daughter of high profile lawyer Robert Kardashian — is struggling with constitutional law, and explored topics including whether porn stars have a realistic chance of becoming solicitors.

These articles caught the eye of many, including leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, who have brought a quick close to Hinkley’s budding journalism career by offering her a training contract.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “Emily embodies the firm’s values of down-to-earth, no-nonsense legal advice delivered by intelligent minds.”

Francesca Crossley, who will compete in the Miss England semi-finals in Blackpool in October, said: “I wish Emily all the best in her future career.”

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