About me

Call
1999 Inner Temple

Education
Ruskin College Oxford 1988 - 90 Diploma
University East Anglia 1990 - 93 Law Degree
University West of England 1998 - 99 Bar Vocational Course

Employment
I began my working life as an ancillary worker in an NHS hospital, where I became involved in trade union work for NUPE (now part of UNISON). I was extremely fortunate to be accepted into Ruskin College, Oxford and sponsored by the TUC and my trade union throughout my diploma course. I went on to a law degree at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. During the second year of my degree I began volunteering for an advice centre and following my degree I became a full-time welfare rights worker before going on to specialise in employment law. In 1998 I returned to university to undertake my Bar finals and was called to the Bar in 1999.

Prior to beginning in practice as a barrister I spent a year as the co-ordinator of an employment support service for voluntary sector employers in the south west of England. Since then I have continued to provide freelance training and consultancy in relation to employment law, charity law and health and safety.

I practised as a barrister until January 2004 when, entirely frustrated with the lack of progress towards direct access to barristers made by the Bar Council and conscious of the growing demand for my consultancy services I decided to cease practising. This has enabled me to expand my consultancy work considerably as I am now able to provide advice, and representation where necessary, on specific matters without clients having to engage the services of a solicitor and effectively paying twice for the same service.

I continue to provide my services on a voluntary basis for my local advice agency where I represent clients at employment tribunals.