How a career setback inspired one solicitor’s next chapter

I started my career as a trainee solicitor for a boutique high street law firm. I had quite a lot of hands-on experience from day one and learned about how a startup operates – insight that was eventually invaluable when I started my own company.

After I qualified, my ambitious nature led me to the city. I thought the financial sector would be a good move, given the evolving regulatory landscape. I worked in junior roles for an ombudsman and a large bank.

Experience at an international law firm on a regulatory project landed me my first in-house solicitor role with a retail bank. This led me into corporate governance. By 2020 I was dual qualified as a solicitor and company secretary.

But a major setback in my career came at the cusp of the pandemic when I was unlawfully dismissed. This challenging experience prompted me to get my career back on track and pivot.

I won two claims at the liability hearing and had a very successful outcome at remedy hearing. I was a litigant in person and this was a very proud moment for me, given I had no legal team. I faced a King’s Counsel and a legal team from an international law firm in opposition.

My personal litigation experience fuelled my passion for supporting clients. Meticulously reviewing evidence and linking it with the law is an important skill. Coming up with arguments you know your opponent cannot rebut is hugely satisfying. It takes more than confidence to get a case over the line.

During my three years of litigation, I set up my own company, GNR Solicitors. Pivoting my career in this new direction gave me the opportunity to continue my legal career in a self-employed capacity. Running your own firm is all-encompassing. Besides the day-to-day legal work, there’s also compliance and financial matters to manage.

What surprised me most when starting up, was my ability to learn a wide range of new skills quickly. When you work in corporate, you rarely utilise any entrepreneurial skills and are dependent on others. Digital marketing, web design and starting a podcast were things I’d never had to do before. I collaborated with talented consultants who supported my startup journey.

The best part of running your own law firm is getting results for your clients. I get so much more gratitude than ever before. It’s a hugely satisfying feeling creating your own entity from scratch. Alongside building my practice, I am also a fractional lecturer with legal writing interest on evolving employment law in the UK.

With my governance background I’ve always been conscious of organisational culture. Throughout my career I’ve closely observed ‘the room’ to figure out personality types. This is also a beneficial skill in the court room when cross examining witnesses.

For me, the most interesting aspect of employment law is case law. I find it fascinating how judges apply the various legal tests to reach decisions. With so many tests to consider, it’s very technical – particularly discrimination law.

My focus now is moving towards supporting businesses at risk of litigation who require technical support to understand potential liability. With recently proposed employment legislation on the horizon, and greater rights for employees, businesses need to be equipped from the outset.

Personal strengths such as hard work, adaptability and resilience have certainly helped me throughout my career. These are essential traits you need during challenging times.

My top advice to anyone struggling in their legal career is to embrace the variety of the profession. Law offers so many avenues. You can practise in different areas, consult, start a law firm or even lecture. There is something for everyone in this vast field.