Laura W

Profile:

After becoming a parent at a young age I decided to embark on legal training to make sure I provided a secure income for my family. I studied law part time at night and weekends while working and with young children. My first legal job was as a paralegal for the Crown Prosecution Service. I obtained a training contract with a well regarded criminal defence firm in the City of London where I worked on high profile cases, such as the inquest following the 7/7 bombings in London. I trained as a police station representative.

When I qualified I became a duty solicitor, representing defendants in the Magistrates’ Court for several years. I conducted all Magistrates’ Court hearings including trials. I then worked in house for an insurer where I began to work in Criminal Regulatory Law and in particular in Health and Safety. After a couple of years I was employed to work in the Health and Safety Regulatory Team at Pinsent Masons, as a Solicitor.

A couple of years later I was promoted to Associate and 3 years later to Senior Associate. I advise large international companies and individual Directors across all sectors on their health and safety compliance and liability. This is often in the aftermath of serious incidents involving fatalities and life changing injuries. I strongly believe that the legal profession must diversify in all respects in order to attract the best talent. The best lawyers and colleagues are not necessarily from the ‘traditional’ route into law. I feel really passionate about letting people from diverse backgrounds know there is a place for them in law and to encourage them to aim for a legal career if that is their goal.

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