Experience

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Solicitor (Adult Social Care and Litigation)

  • May 2023 - Present

  In addition to the duties of Solicitor, (set out below), I am responsible for: The supervision and training of junior staff; Assisting the Lead Solicitor by deputising at meetings in her absence; Assisting the Lead Solicitor in the development and delivery of legal training to client departments; Managing a caseload of predominantly complex legal matters;The reviewing and advising on internal policy matters.

• Solicitor (Adult Social Care and Litigation)

  • Oct 2020 - May 2023

  Solicitor in the Adults and Litigation team. I advise the local authority and provide legal representation in a varied range of public law adult social care matters including s21A MCA 2005 deprivation of liberty safeguards (DOLS) challenges, Human Rights challenges, contested deputyship applications, ordinary residence disputes and termination of tenancy applications to the Court of Protection. I provide advice and representation on Mental Health Act matters, including applications to Court for Nearest Relative status including deposing identified Nearest Relatives where they are unable or unwilling to act and making emergency warrant applications under s135 Mental Health Act 1983. I have been instructed in an Inquest touching the death of a vulnerable person suffering from mental health issues. I represented the Local Authority in the Coroner's Court at multiple Pre-Inquest Review hearings against London counsel and successfully argued in both oral and written submissions that the case is not an Article 2 Inquest. I hope to take on more work in the Coroner's Court and the Mental Health Tribunal in the future. I act as Clerk to the Independent School Admissions Appeal Panel, advising the panel members on relevant law, procedure and policy at school admissions appeal hearings. I draft robust school admission appeal decision letters to applicants on behalf of the panel. I represent the Local Authority in the SEND Tribunal at contested hearings. I advise Local Authority maintained schools on a range of Education Law issues. I have successfully prosecuted in Education Act non-attendance cases in the Magistrates' Court.I acted as a Deputy Returning Officer in the 2021 Mayoral and PCC elections. I work on a wide range of general Civil and Criminal Litigation matters such as trespass to land. I successfully appeared in the Magistrates Court where I obtained two Closure Orders in relation to linked properties where alleged criminality was taking place. Show less



Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors LLP

• United Kingdom
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Private Client Solicitor

  • Jan 2020 - Oct 2020

  Newly Qualified Solicitor in the Private Client department, based out of the Malton office. I managed a high volume of Will, Probate, Lasting Power of Attorney, Court of Protection, Trust and Tax matters. I have consistently exceeded my billing targets and I was actively involved in business development activities for the firm. I have had articles on Private Client matters published in the Ryedale Gazette and Herald newspaper. I especially enjoyed working with rural clients and have sat as a panel member at events for the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs and attended the National Farmers' Union Conference as one of two delegates from the firm. Show less



Harrowells Limited

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Trainee Solicitor

  • Jul 2018 - Jan 2020

  Final Seat in the Private Client department. I drafted Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, assisted a Senior Chartered Legal Executive on Probate matters including intestacy and foreign jurisdiction matters. I worked with the Court of Protection team on elderly client matters including administration of affairs and drafting and advising on deputyship applications. I carried out legal research on complex matters in tax law and foreign jurisdiction probate applications. I also won an Employee Recognition Award for my work managing a project to claim PPI for Estates. My previous seat was in the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team, assisting solicitors and partners in handling a range of fast track pre-litigation and litigated matters including Employer's/Public Liability claims, RTA claims and Clinical Negligence claims. My second seat was based in the company's Thirsk office, assisting a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and also assisting associates and partners on some Commercial Property matters. This seat had a strong agricultural and rural focus. I assisted on property litigation matters including right of way disputes and trespass, in addition to commercial litigation matters including farm partnership disputes, commercial contract disputes and cross-jurisduction debt recovery/insolvency. I instructed and liased with Counsel, attended conferences with Counsel and client interviews, carried out in depth research on a range of matters including historical title investigations and drafted pleadings, letters and costs schedules.My commercial property experience included assisting a partner in dealing with replies to requisitions on a £4.5 million sale of a landed estate; liaising with the HM Land Registry, HMRC and other solicitors on the sale of farms and agricultural land; carrying out research into right to light notices and planning matters and also assisting with plot sale and retail/commercial leasehold transactions. Show less

• Paralegal

  • Jan 2018 - Jul 2018

  Paralegal in the Employment and Litigation and Dispute Resolution departments. This is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority as time to count towards my Training Contract. I assisted partners and associates on a range of employment litigation matters including discrimination/Equality Act claims and unfair dismissal claims. I drafted pleadings, assisted in ACAS negotiations and carried out research. I also carried out non-contentious work including drafting contracts of employment and reviewing staff handbooks. I co-presented an Employment Law update seminar to members of the Yorkshire CIPD. I also assisted members of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team on Landlord and Tenant matters including possession proceedings, commercial contract disputes and contentious probate disputes. I carried out research, dealt with new client enquiries and observed court proceedings. Show less



Harrogate Borough Council

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Housing Options Officer

  • Jul 2016 - Jan 2018

  I provided housing advice to members of the public with the aim of preventing homelessness. I accepted homelessness applications from members of the public and investigated their circumstances, after which I made a decision as to what (if any) legal housing duty was owed to them by the local authority in accordance with relevant legislation and case law. My role involved interviewing members of the public at a range of locations including the local authority offices, hospitals, at home and elsewhere in the community. I also liaised with a number of other professionals including doctors, solicitors, support workers, social workers etc. in order to investigate homelessness cases. I worked with the Local Authority Allocations Team to place housing applicants in both social housing and private sector tenancies following a period of time in temporary accommodation. I also carried out Children Act 1989 joint assessments of homeless 16 and 17 year old children with the North Yorkshire Social Care Team. Show less



House of Commons

• United Kingdom
• Political Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Constituency Assistant to Greg Mullholland MP for Leeds North West

  • Dec 2015 - May 2016

  An interesting and varied role where I have been able to expand my skill set. I managed all aspects of constituency based press for the Member of Parliament including drafting press releases, building positive relationships with the local and national press and social media and website management. I have gained headline local news coverage for Councillors and a radio interview for the Member of Parliament on a local planning issue. I also wrote copy for the Member of Parliament's website. I have assisted in devising, planning and managing both community and national campaigns, including a national campaign for fair access to pensions for War Widows. I managed the Local Election campaigns of Councillors and Council Candidates for Leeds City Council Wards. I managed and co-ordinated a team of volunteers who assist in constituency campaigning. This includes organising and running a monthly campaigning Action Day. In addition, I produced print based campaign materials for local and national campaigns. I co-ordinated the delivery of campaign literature to 60,000 households in the constituency. I was responsible for organising constituency social and fundraising events. I produced the annual fundraising plan for the constituency and I was responsible for delivering this on time and on budget. I developed and managed relationships internally and externally. I often accompanied the Member of Parliament on public engagements. Further to this, I performed administrative and compliance duties for the Leeds North West Constituency Executive Committee. Show less



Shelter

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• National Housing Advisory Service Consultancy Adviser

  • Oct 2014 - Dec 2015

  In this role I broadened my knowledge of Housing Law. I provided 2nd Tier advice at specialist level to Housing professionals from Local Authorities, Citizens' Advice Bureaux and other voluntary agencies on complex legal matters. The advice given included Landlord and Tenant Law, Mortgage Law and Public Law. I kept up to date with recent legal developments and spent a significant amount of time in this role, carrying out legal research and updating my knowledge in this area of law.I worked under pressure, as part of a team in a target driven environment. Show less

• National Housing Advisory Service Mortgage Debt Adviser

  • Nov 2012 - Oct 2014

  I efficiently managed a large case load of Mortgage Debt clients who were referred from local authorities, the Shelter Helpline, housing associations and other advice agencies. This involved carrying out client interviews via the telephone, giving advice and finding solutions relating to prevention of homelessness as a result of mortgage arrears. We assisted litigants in person with the process of defending their mortgage possession proceedings in the County Court. Therefore, I frequently drafted documents for Court, including application notices, witness statements and supporting letters. I have strong negotiation skills, as a result of advocating on behalf of my clients with mortgage lenders via the telephone and in writing. I was also responsible for producing clear and accurate confirmation of advice letters for clients. In addition to legal advice, I provided clients with comprehensive money advice including welfare benefits checks and advising clients on budgeting and maximising their household income in order to prevent home repossessions. I competently used Microsoft Office programmes, the Land Registry database and a case management system (CRM). Show less