Having graduated in 2011 with a BA in Social Anthropology & Law, José talks about his career as an in-house lawyer.
Tell us about your career since studying with us.
I qualified as an in-house lawyer in the tech/e-commerce industry, and I currently practice privacy and data protection law at eBay as Senior Privacy Counsel UK & Global People Privacy.
How did studying anthropology prepare you for your career?
LSE's Anthropology programme provided me with a deep understanding of human behaviour, society, and awareness of global and ethical perspectives, which is integral for a lawyer practicing law at an international level. Not only did it provide me with an interdisciplinary perspective on cross-border legal issues, but it has also enhanced my ability to empathise with clients based in alternative cultures, enabling me to adapt my advisory style.
Could you tell us about the company you work for and what you enjoy most about working in the sector?
I trained at eBay soon after finishing my legal studies and was given the opportunity to try several different roles within the legal department, including the ticket marketplace StubHub which has since been spun off.
It’s a fascinating company to work for due to the variety it offers and its global reach. As a student you’re exposed to the company early on since it was one of the first major players in the industry, and so major legal concepts were developed with eBay in mind. At the socio-cultural level, it’s interesting to see how we’ve developed different strategies and systems to handle inter-personal relationships and transactions online – something the legal team is directly involved in.
I personally enjoy working on a varied range of topics, engaging with my commercial colleagues, dealing with people focused global legal issues.
How do you apply anthropology in your work?
Studying anthropology helped me develop a more unique perspective on global issues. Not only has my analytical ability been tempered to better assess and deal with cross-border/cross-cultural issues, but I can adapt my style of legal advice to specific audiences and scenarios using the tools I developed while studying anthropology.
What are some important lessons you’ve learnt during your career?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt is the value of context, both legal and human. My background in anthropology taught me that behind every rule, decision, or dispute, there’s a story shaped by culture, values, and lived experience. In legal practice, especially when working with diverse clients or in fast-evolving areas like privacy or tech, it’s crucial to look beyond the black-letter law and understand how regulation impacts real people in real situations, helping you get to the heart of what your clients want to achieve.
What advice would you give students who want to find similar roles?
Sell your unique perspective, cultivated by studying anthropology, as a benefit. Although initially it may seem that many UK solicitors/barristers have taken a straightforward route to the profession, there are also many others who have not. A career journey more often than not is a long and winding road with many difficult choices to make - use your background to carve out a unique path.
The route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales has recently been updated. I recommend becoming familiar with the new process called the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, using resources available at the Law Society and the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority, engaging with the LSE careers team and attending networking events held by the relevant LSE departments.