Whilst I was making my way through law school, believing I was at the pinnacle of all knowledge, enthused to be unleashed on some poor client and believing in my high principled self that I was to be one of the saviours of society with my bleating liberal heart, wondering why we couldn’t all just get along, a friend of mine told me that “lawyers are not made, they are born”.
Strangely his words instinctively made sense to me, I knew from a young age I was going to become a lawyer, as I genuinely had an urge to help everyone. It is possible I was also influenced by the likes of LA Law, a show I am sure I was much too young to watch, but it was the 1980s. Health and Safety and ratings for TV shows had not been invented yet!
At my tender pre-teen age and influenced by the glossy American law show, I had not understood the different categories of lawyers, I just knew I HAD to become one. By my early teens I was known as being the helper amongst my peers, the one they would come to for “sound” advice. In retrospect, I don’t know why any of us thought that was a sensible idea, but who can fathom the teenage brain. By year 10 work experience, one or two of my teachers we quite supportive of my ambitions to study law and they helped me to arrange work experience at the Crown Prosecution Services. However, I was subject to very little law, and spent much of the time conducting data entry and looking up information. I thought it was boring as hell, but now I understand data, information and research are quite fundamental to any case.
One of my teachers was very generous and gave me his copy of a criminal law book; however, I don’t believe I ever read it, as it was pretty dated at the point of gift. In any event, by the first year of university, I knew I did not want to practice criminal law. At the time it seemed to me that as lawyers, we were simply cogs in the machine and not truly challenging the system. With views like those, I’m sure I would have been labelled an “activist lawyer”.
None-the-less, I will be forever grateful for the interest of those couple of teachers in what I wanted to achieve. A bit of encouragement and confidence building truly goes a long way in young people. I did not attend the local grammar school, where you have instilled in you a sense of an expectation of success, but a local state school, which had a diverse population of people from a modern middle classed background, like myself; children from economically deprived backgrounds; and everyone else in between.
I saw a number of my peers drop out of education, namely young Black boys for numerous societal reasons, and a couple of my peers had teenage pregnancies. So to be in that environment and be able to have the confidence in ones own ability to achieve, to have the grit to be single-mindedly focussed, so as to graduate with a very decent degree, qualify as a solicitor and become a business owner, is a significant achievement.
I grew up in Leicester in the 1980s. At the time, Leicester was not known for it’s multi-culturalism, of which it has proudly sang about for the past 20 years or so. During the 80s, Leicester was quite a difficult place if you were from a Black background. The Leicestershire Police force was known for significantly and disproportionately stopping Black people over other racial groups. Racial tensions were felt in all walks of lives. Therefore, I, as a young Black person, and despite the notion instilled in me by family that I could achieve; I also felt the pressure of the unspoken 2nd path I would have to walk. Somehow, I had to navigate subtle or at times very overt racism; teachers who would pass me over, even though it was obvious I was bright; being followed around the shops; or receiving verbal abuse in the street and work place. I have also felt and seen the subtle signs of racism at professional events, where I am asked for the umpteenth time where I am from (I often reply tongue in cheek that I grew up in Leicester); or comment on how well I have done to get here, from my assumed working class roots; or some flippant comment about being associated with Highfields or cannabis. I am not from the area, but should it matter if I was. For the record, I do not use any intoxicating substances, whether illicit or otherwise, but in a world where even MPs and US Presidents have been known for using Cannabis, who doesn’t know somebody that has used it. Also, like Alexandra Wilson (author of ‘In Black & White’) and other Black lawyers, I have been mistaken for the social worker, Cafcass officer and someone’s mother at court. Heaven forbid, I may just be the solicitor with her own practice. I know I have the legitimacy to be where I am, as I put the work in. I attended law school; obtained the training contract; qualified; continued my professional development over the years. I have done all of this with integrity, honesty and with the value of knowing that I am combating injustice and I am helping people to achieve their objectives. In any event, as a person from an “ethnic minority” background, this is a path well trodden and I have become an expert at shrugging off the ignorance of others and networking a room.
Early in 2020 I had a number of speaking opportunities with the students at the University of Leicester, Beaumont Leys secondary school and Leicester Girls High School, and I was quite saddened to have the same question asked at all three places. The essence of the question was how do I as a black woman, and therefore, they as young Black women or even young Black men, find their place in this world and deal with the racism which they face. What I had to say to them was the racism is not their problem; it is the issue of the person who’s being racist towards them. I felt that they (and I) had to learn resilience to know that we may go into education institutions or the workplace or into the court and we may be faced with an individual who may dislike us because of the colour of our skin or for being women or the double impact of being black and female. I wanted those young people to know that all they have to do is be true to themselves, conduct themselves with integrity, honesty and have grit to face the inevitable challenges. I wanted them to know that they will overcome as long as they stand their ground.
My experiences are a reason why I believe it is important to help young people obtain experience in our profession, as well as amongst other professions. It is important for young people to recognise, no matter their background; whether it be one classed as economically deprived; an “ethnic minority”; being a female in a traditionally male dominated arena or whether they have a disability, they still have a place. Our profession can only grow and become enriched with people of diverse thought and experience.
In 2017, my co-Director, Ruth Goward and I received SRA recognition to start AGR Law as a solicitors practice. The first 2 years were very busy with our achievements. We obtained Lexcel Accreditation, putting client care and ethics at the heart of what we do. We contracted with the Legal Aid Agency, established a Polish Department, opened a 2nd office in Northampton and Ruth came in the top 3 of the round of Resolution Accredited Specialists. However, more rewarding, we received an accolade from our peers by becoming LLS Small Firm of the Year winners and we were finalists at The Law Society Excellence Awards.
I will finish on my appointment of Deputy Vice President of LLS in 2020. The appointment took place on the first day of Black history month, in a year where global recognition was given to the injustices faced by Black people in America and on our own doorstep. We are in a time where we are advocating for change and a more diverse profession. However, I am very proud to be part of an organisation, which has strived towards diversity and inclusion. The LLS has had a diversity subgroup for some 11 years; it is celebrating its 10th female president and I am the first African-Caribbean woman to be appointed to the position of DVP. This is very fitting in a year where our President’s theme is diversity; where our immediate past President celebrated 100 years of women in law and our past President before, ran many events demonstrating the diversity in the profession. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues, contributing to the work on diversity and protecting the Rule of law.
Anti-discrimination and Modern Day Slavery Statement
At Leicestershire Law Society, we have always valued diversity amongst our members, Patrons, Business Partners, Guests and Volunteers.
2020 has been an eventful year highlighting many injustices still prevalent in our societies in England and further afield. These events have caused us at the LLS to reflect on our work in diversity, equality and promoting justice.
At the LLS we stand in solidarity with those who have been affected by discrimination and modern slavery. We are open to challenge in our own practices and note how unconscious bias can lead to unintended consequences. We will therefore actively review, our own practices to ensure they do not adversely effect any protected group of people.
Bias and discrimination are a threat to a just and functioning legal system, which is an important part of a democratic society. We will therefore challenge bias and discriminatory practices that lead to injustice in our society. This will ensure the rule of law applies to everyone equally and justly.
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