
The Day Empathy Won the Contract
It was one of the biggest pitches of my career.
A large public sector organisation was seeking lawyers to deliver training to its entire workforce, thousands of people across the UK.
But this wasn’t just any training. It had been formally recommended in a high-profile independent review, following serious concerns about how the organisation had responded to internal issues. The stakes were high. This was about restoring trust, protecting reputations, and ultimately safeguarding the people the organisation served.

I Had to Be Independent to Succeed - Then Got Criticised For It
Years ago, I applied for promotion at a law firm where the environment made it especially difficult to progress. All the partners in my department were men. Any new client opportunities that came into the firm were passed directly to them. If you weren’t already a partner, you had to generate new work on your own - not easy when most of the work we did involved large, established organisations who rarely changed legal providers.
But I managed it. I identified a major potential client and spent years proactively offering them free training and support. I kept showing up, building trust, and adding value. Eventually, they gave us work. It was a significant win for the firm - and I’d taken the lead from start to finish.

The Lawyer’s Secret to Joy, Peace and Power
How would your legal career feel if it were filled with more joy, more peace, and a deep sense of personal power?
That’s exactly what we explored in this month’s Female Lawyers’ Club masterclass with the brilliant Jackie Williamson, a former solicitor who now helps lawyers avoid burnout and find a life they genuinely love.

Why Selfies are No Longer My Friend
At a recent Female Lawyers’ Club drinks in London, we watched two women in a bar taking selfies - full-on, exaggerated poses, utterly unbothered by anyone around them. We admired them. They gave zero shits. And why should they? They looked fabulous.
I’ve never quite felt that level of ease with how I look - especially not in the world of law.

Stop Waiting Until You're "Ready"
Have you ever talked yourself out of applying for a job, going for a promotion, or leading a big project… because you didn’t meet every single requirement?
If so, you’re not alone.
Research published in Harvard Business Review found that women tend to apply for roles only when they meet 100% of the listed criteria. Men, on the other hand, are happy to go for it when they meet just 60%.
And I see this all the time amongst female lawyers.