Senior solicitor
I joined West Midlands Police in 2020, having trained at Trowers & Hamlins and qualified at DLA Piper. Our Joint Legal Services act for both West Midlands Police and Staffordshire Police – hence it’s a busy department. As a senior lawyer I lead on commercial property, general commercial and public procurement matters for both forces. The property elements include leases and licences of property such as police stations, offices, training sites and covert sites. General commercial can range from contracts with football clubs, collaboration agreements with other police forces to media agreements. Some of the media agreements include mainstream documentaries on the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 which showcase the work of policing. Procurement includes procuring goods and services, such as software, IT, firearms, uniform and more. One of the highlights was working on a number of different matters for the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022, not only a great moment for the region but also one of the largest operations in West Midlands Police history.
The variety of legal work is one of the best things about life in-house. Having trained and qualified in private practice it was always assumed that a solicitor would only deal with one area of law. Being able to advise clients on a wide range of issues has allowed me to develop greatly as a professional and have stronger involvement in my client’s projects. Working in the public sector and a police force has also given me a stronger motivation and purpose for my daily work: knowing that my clients and colleagues are working towards preventing crime, supporting the public and making positive changes to people’s lives. Resources can be limited in some circumstances for in-house lawyers, but I am privileged to work in a large legal department and in a city with a lot of training opportunities.
'BalAtwaLegal is a resource for aspiring and practising lawyers. It has been a creative outlet to capture different elements of my career'
BalAtwaLegal is a YouTube channel that covers careers, case law and comedy! As a former council member at the Law Society representing junior solicitors, I was conscious of the need for dedicated resources to help aspiring and junior lawyers. A lot of the content has been created as a result of questions I’ve had from students, junior lawyers and career changers. Second, I was conscious that not every in-house lawyer has access to the resources available to private practitioners or large legal teams. Last but not least, the channel has been a creative outlet to capture different elements of my career.
As a former chair of the Birmingham Solicitors’ Group (now Birmingham Junior Lawyers Division) and chair of the Birmingham Law Society In-House Committee, I’ve benefited immensely on a personal and professional level. First, the opportunity to work with so many talented and hard-working lawyers across different firms and organisations that I would never have met if it weren’t for these organisations. Working with such a great group of people has motivated me to support, create and build these thriving communities. I’ve been able to develop skills in leadership, teamwork, negotiation, content creation, PR and a lot more. Having a safe space to develop and grow has given me so much confidence. I would recommend every lawyer at any level to get involved with regional and/or national groups at every opportunity.
I was initially elected to the Law Society’s council in 2021 to represent junior solicitors and have recently been elected again, this time to represent in-house corporate counsel solicitors across England and Wales. I understand the importance of community, representation and change. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the council, from seeing the work of the Law Society first hand, to meeting and working with council members from across the country and being an advocate for my constituents. I look forward to being back on the council in 2026 and making a positive contribution to our profession. Any of my constituents who would like to get in touch can do so through social media.
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