Experience

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate Solicitor

  • Jul 2018 - Present

  I am a Solicitor in the Children’s Team within the Private Legal Services department. I undertake all aspects of work relating to Children Law, involving disputes between parents, family members or where a local authority is involved with a child. I regularly represent the interests of adults and children in complex proceedings involving issues such as non-accidental injury, physical/emotional/sexual abuse and neglect. I qualified as a Solicitor in 2015, having gained invaluable experience in Children’s Law for over seven years and joined Anthony Collins in July 2018. I am an accredited member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and a member of the Association for Lawyers for Children. My experience and role at the firm allows me to assist vulnerable individuals in a range of different cases in all levels of Court from Lay Magistrates to the High Court. My notable cases include:Re N (A Child) (Termination of appointment of children's guardian) [2022] EWFC B16Re X (A Child) (Surrogacy: Time Limit) [2014] EWHC 3135 (Fam)Birmingham City Council v SK [2016] EWHC 310 (Fam)



Glaisyers ETL

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Solicitor

  • Jul 2015 - Jun 2018

  Child Care Law – managing a full caseload of both public and private law proceedings encompassing all applications made under the Children Act 1989 and the Family Law Act 1996. I continue to gain exposure to proceedings at all levels of the Court, including the High Court and expand my advocacy skills before both District and Circuit Judges. I am fortunate enough to currently be involved in and to have had extensive involvement in complex cases including serious allegations of non-accidental injury and physical chastisement, sexual abuse, cultural disputes such as female genital mutilation (FGM), honour based violence and the removal of children to non-convention countries. I have also had extensive dealings with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 in particular representing a commissioning parent from an international surrogacy agreement, in her time barred application for a parental order reported under Re X (A Child) (Surrogacy: Time Limit) [2014] EWHC 3135 (Fam).

• Trainee Solicitor

  • Jan 2014 - Jun 2015

  Responsibilities and abilities gained:Following a successful period as a Paralegal, I was offered a training contract commencing in January 2014, with six months time to count. As part of my training I have undertaken seats in the following departments:Criminal – managing a small case load of Magistrates Court and Crown Court files of varying complexities. I was heavily involved in a number of high profile and complex matters most notably offences of serious fraud, conspiracy to kidnap and murder, and a conspiracy to supply firearms to an undercover officer. I was able to experience assisting Silk and Junior Counsel at Birmingham and Wolverhampton Crown Courts. I was also able to shadow fee earners representing clients at the Police Station and adjudications within the Prison Law department.Private Client – developing experience in a variety of mattes including wills and probate, residential and commercial conveyancing and lasting powers of attorney. Family – managing a full caseload of both public and private law proceedings encompassing all applications made under the Children Act 1989 and the Family Law Act 1996. I continue to gain exposure to proceedings at all levels of the Court, including the High Court and expand my advocacy skills before both District and Circuit Judges. I am fortunate enough to currently be involved in and to have had extensive involvement in complex cases including serious allegations of non-accidental injury and physical chastisement, sexual abuse, cultural disputes such as female genital mutilation (FGM), honour based violence and the removal of children to non-convention countries. I have also had extensive dealings with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 in particular representing a commissioning parent from an international surrogacy agreement, in her time barred application for a parental order reported under Re X (A Child) (Surrogacy: Time Limit) [2014] EWHC 3135 (Fam).

• Paralegal

  • Jan 2012 - Dec 2013

  Responsibilities and abilities gained:Worked within a team of paralegals in the Family department of an established, leading city firm listed in the prestigious Legal 500 directory.Provided skilled assistance to the Head of department and senior fee earners as members of the Law Society Children Panel on extensive and complex case loads.Performed key work on files including the necessary administrative tasks, research, drafting and preparing legal documents such as statements, responses to evidence and preliminary documents for Court bundles.Assigned the responsibility of a number of matters including pre and commenced proceedings, becoming heavily involved in the day to day running of privately and publicly funded files.Attended Court to assist counsel with clients at lengthy hearings including Finding of Fact Hearings, Issue Resolution Hearings and Final Hearings in the Magistrates, County and High Court. Regularly attended a variety of important meetings including Child in Care Review meetings, Initial Child Protection Conferences and Advocates meetings on behalf of the Children’s Guardian and Clients.Liaised with experts, Court offices, Chambers and other legal professionals on a daily basis.Undertook other tasks including the compilation of bundles and calculating profit on accounts and cost reviews.



Selfridges

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Menswear Contemporary Designer

  • Aug 2009 - Jul 2017

  Responsibilities and abilities gained:Working in the Menswear Designer department of the store, promoting a variety of high fashion luxury brands such as Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy.Establishing an extensive clientele base and providing a personal shopping experience for customers alike.Meeting and exceeding the high standards and demands of our valued clients with the utmost professionalism.Assisting clients with choosing products which meet their needs and wants whilst advising them on the latest fashion trends and looks to suit their personal style.Enthusiastically working within a large team across not just the department as a whole, but the entire floor and store.Awarded Extraordinary Sales Associate for exceeding my individual annual monetary and client feedback targets. Due to the high turnover of the fashion retail market; ensuring that I obtain complete and detailed knowledge of the products on sale in order to sell effectively and offer alternatives to clients across all departments within the business.



Birmingham Law Centre

• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Student Placement

  • Jul 2010 - Aug 2010

  Responsibilities and abilities gained:I worked alongside a dedicated senior solicitor and caseworker at the Birmingham Law Centre which provided specialist advice to destitute people who are unable to afford representation in all areas of social welfare law. I thoroughly read case law, created client interview questionnaires and drafted letters outlining a client’s current position, what we hoped to accomplish on their behalf and possible timescales for achieving that objective.Researched points of welfare law such as national insurance requirements in order to receive benefits, debt relief orders and disallowed and sanctioned benefit payments.Shadowed a case worker in client meetings concerned with various welfare issues such as Disability Living Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support and other benefits in preparation for formal disputes, lower tier and upper tier appeals at the Tribunals Service. Prepared time summary continuation sheets and calculated the total sum and time spent on individual cases by various actions and degrees i.e. by complexity, preparation and attendance by the client.