For Emma Rattray, solving complex problems is the constant challenge that fuels her career. Her journey into engineering has always been driven by curiosity and a desire to test her limits, starting with a foundational MATLAB class and evolving into side projects blending AI with the outdoors. Now, just weeks into her role as a software engineer at Legora, she’s bringing that same energy to the highly collaborative team at Europe’s fastest-growing legal AI company.

When code clicks

Emma didn’t start out in tech. Having achieved a degree in chemical engineering, it wasn’t until a single coding course that she found her true calling. The language of code – structured, logical, and endlessly creative – just made sense. For Emma, it was simply another system to understand, much like the processes she had studied in chemical engineering.

While some of her classmates dreaded programming, Emma saw possibility. “It just really clicked with the way my brain works,” she reflects. What began with MATLAB turned into late-night Python projects and a self-guided education in software development, driven by curiosity rather than coursework.

Projects with purpose

Side projects became a critical space for experimentation. Whether building an AI tool to plan micro-adventures in Scotland or an app to convert video recipes into structured instructions, Emma’s coding was always tied to real-world use – and fun.

Each tool was a way to apply learning, push her boundaries, and build solutions to concrete problems. That hands-on ethos carried into her professional journey at IBM, in fast-paced product internships, and later at JP Morgan, where she helped deepen teams’ understanding of AI.   

Finding the right fit

That journey also revealed something deeper about the kind of engineer Emma wanted to be. At IBM, she thrived in tight, passionate teams shipping real products with real users. At JP Morgan, the distance from end users prompted a realisation.

“I always want to understand the people I’m building for,” she says, explaining why direct contact between users and engineers became a priority. That insight became a driving force behind her decision to join Legora – a place where engineers work closely with legal experts and feedback loops are measured in hours, not months. 

Engineering, together

At Legora, collaboration is the foundation of the engineering process, but at a pace that sets the team apart, operating with a single-minded focus on solving the administrative bottlenecks that can cost lawyers hours every day.

“We’re constantly pushing updates based on direct input from legal professionals. It’s a different level of agility,” she explains.   

From day one, Emma found herself surrounded by people who are not only smart but generous: with their time, ideas, and support. “Everyone here is kind, high agency and intelligent,” she says. “That makes a huge difference.”

She’s already made it a priority to shadow legal engineers, join user calls, and dive deep into how lawyers work. “My goal right now is to become the best engineer I can possibly be”, she adds. “Legora feels like the right place to do that – with exposure to the kind of challenges, speed and collaboration that really grow your skills.”

Legora has scaled rapidly, now serving more than 550 clients across 50 markets and recently securing a US$150 million Series C funding round at a valuation of US$1.8 billion. Those clients include leading firms such as Linklaters, Cleary Gottlieb, Goodwin, Bird & Bird, and Mannheimer Swartling – giving engineers direct insight into how the world’s top legal teams are reworking their day-to-day practice with AI. 

What comes next

Emma’s just getting started, both in Stockholm and at Legora. But the thread running through every step so far is clear: find something hard, and try to solve it.

Whether that’s decoding a legal workflow or learning a new domain from scratch, she’s embracing the challenge. “You build up this confidence,” she says. “Like, okay, this looks hard. But so was the last thing. And I figured that out.”

At Legora, she’s doing it with a team, and a product, that thrives on that same mindset. This isn’t just about maintaining a platform; it’s about continuously shaping something better, shipping new capabilities and improvements that ensure Legora keeps evolving with its users.