Lawyer Monthly - Women In Law Special Edition

LAWYER MONTHLY WOMEN IN LAW EDITION 80 TOP TIPS ON MAKING PARTNER I don’t come from a family of lawyers. My parents were both journalists and I thought I might follow in their footsteps. However, aged 14, I got the opportunity to do work experience at a criminal law firm in my home town of Rotherham. It doesn’t sound very glamorous but gosh, it was exciting! This was over 25 years ago and back in the ‘good old days’ when crim- inal legal aid work was exciting, challenging and properly funded. I was lucky enough to spend the week ‘work shadowing’ three highly successful, charismatic partners (two men, one woman) whom I accompanied to the Magistrates’ court every day for a week. I was fascinated by the fast pace of criminal law, the relationships between criminal lawyers and their clients, the formality, pomp and ceremony of the court (yes, even in Rotherham!) and the clever way lawyers presented their clients’ cases in the very best light. By the end of the week I had decided that this was THE career for me – I could actually make a difference to people’s lives. If I did my job well, I could stop people going to prison! Attending an inspirational lecture by Michael Mansfield during my sixth form sealed my fate. I was hooked… By Emma Brooks, Partner, Byrne and Partners LLP