empowered

What would an average working day look like?

The work in Dispute Resolution is diverse, which means no day is the same. I specialise in trust disputes, construction disputes and personal injury so not only are my cases varied, but my clients range from individuals to big corporations and each will wish to work with me in their own particular way. There is a general misconception that litigation lawyers spend their day in court but my role is to try and avoid Court unless it is absolutely necessary. This means that whilst some days I will spend my day appearing before the Court in trial or making or defending various applications, other days I am in the office, speaking with my clients, providing guidance and advice on their cases or communicating with the lawyer acting for the other party to try and resolve the case and avoid Court intervention.

What attracted you to a career in law and specifically dispute resolution?’

If I am honest, I was probably influenced by programmes such as LA Law and Ally McBeal. The reality of being a lawyer isn’t quite as glamorous as it is on television, but I enjoy the problem-solving aspects, the challenge of ensuring you advance your client’s best case and the sense of achievement and satisfaction when I manage to secure a good result for my client.

What are your most significant milestones in your career so far?

I have been involved in some significant landmark cases that have contributed to Jersey’s jurisprudence and helped develop Jersey’s law. I was also appointed a Crown Advocate in 2015, which was a real honour.

Have you had any female mentors/role models that have helped you in your role?

I have been very lucky to work with bright and inspirational woman during my career but one person who stood out is the retired Solicitor General, Stephanie Nicolle who was the first and only female to be appointed Solicitor General. I worked with her very briefly when I was starting my career and she was kind and patient but also a formidable lawyer.

What advice would you give woman considering a career in law in Jersey?

The first female Jersey advocate was sworn in on 15th August 1968, which you may think isn’t that long ago. Whilst the number of Jersey qualified female lawyers has increased significantly, females appear to be under represented within Dispute Resolution, particularly at the more senior levels, so it would be great to see more woman excel in this area. In terms of advice, at BCR we offer legal assistants the chance to experience different areas of law before they decide which area they want to specialise in, so I would encourage anyone who is given this opportunity to do this. Sometimes the area of law you think you will like, is not the one you are actually best suited to.

You recently joined BCR Law, what attracted you to join the firm?

I wanted to be part of a firm which was dynamic and focused on offering its clients a first class service and I have not been disappointed. BCR has established itself as a leading Jersey law firm with a local focus, which naturally appealed to me and I knew I was joining a very experienced team. I feel BCR was a good fit for me, not least because one of my specialist areas is personal injury and clinical negligence, and BCR is the leading firm in this area.