Senior associate, Bath
I was interested in Egyptology from an early age, inspired by the archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter, who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb. I found it all fascinating and was lucky enough to be accepted to study Egyptology and archaeology at Cambridge University.
Alongside my degree, I travelled to Egypt and was part of a dig in one of the Tombs of the Nobles, not far from the Valley of the Kings and across the Nile from the modern-day city of Luxor. Although the tomb had been robbed in the past, we still recovered an intact statue, and painted wooden fragments and figures that had formed part of funerary goods. Nothing beats bringing something out of the dirt that hasn’t been seen for over 1,000 years, or tracing the brush strokes of an ancient artist when trying to reassemble coffin fragments.
After my undergraduate degree, I lived in Arkansas in the US for two years teaching Egyptology while also studying for my master’s. I initially wanted to work in the museum sector, but there were fewer opportunities around at that time. When I returned to the UK, I started researching other potential careers. Law really appealed because it seemed closely aligned with my history and analytical skills, while still involving working with people.
I was lucky enough to be awarded a training contract with a magic circle firm, which enabled me to do the law conversion course and the LPC. Studying law introduced me to a completely different way of thinking. I qualified into the banking and finance team and did about six months there. While I found it exhilarating working on high-profile matters and learned much about structuring and restructuring, I still had that passion for history and culture. When I saw my current role advertised at Stone King, I thought it could be a perfect way for me to combine the two.
'Nothing beats bringing something out of the dirt that hasn’t been seen for 1,000 years, or tracing the brush strokes of an ancient artist when trying to reassemble coffin fragments'
Charity law is interesting because every client is different and usually very passionate about their organisation and what they’re trying to achieve. A lot of our job in advising people on setting up a charity is to understand that passion, analyse the end goal, and help them create the best legal framework to make it happen.
I meet interesting people every day. Some have been in very hard places – for example, when they have lost a loved one and want to set up a charity in their memory. Often, it goes beyond just giving legal advice as we talk through what is best for them and what they want to achieve. I have a broad practice that involves a lot of work with clients of different faiths and denominations, as well as with the heritage and museum sector, education and animal charities. One of my charity clients has been around since the 11th century, while others have only been established for a few years. Every day is different but very rewarding.
I advise charities through the lifecycle. Everything from setting up to restructuring, negotiating mergers, providing support when things go wrong or closing down the charity if there is no other option, which can be difficult.
Charities are subject to much greater scrutiny these days, and much of the compliance is now done digitally. Sometimes clients have the best intentions but make a mistake that could have serious repercussions, so it’s about unpicking what’s happened and liaising with the Charity Commission on their behalf to help them get to a better position.
Law requires a lot of patience, which you also need when digging for ancient artefacts, which are few and far between. You also need a keen eye for detail and a genuine interest in helping people. I may not have followed the traditional route into law, but I think I’m a better lawyer because of it. My experience has helped in several ways and with many different clients. My time teaching, for example, taught me how to command a classroom’s attention, which definitely helped hone my public speaking skills, and how to distil complex topics, making them easier to understand.
My knowledge of different social structures and worldviews makes it easier to support and understand clients’ passionate projects. When working with museum charities, I know what it’s like to sit on the other side of the table, so I can see the situation from their perspective. I still have friends in the heritage sectors, and I still spend hours in museums.
No comments yet