LAWYER IN THE NEWS

Who? Alison Muir, 36-year-old partner at 12-partner Norfolk firm Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar.Why is she in the news? Represents Tracey Wright, who was last week sentenced to 15 years in jail for the manslaughter of her step-daughter Lauren.

Lauren, who was six, died after a long period of abuse at the hands of her stepmother which culminated in being hit so hard in the stomach that her digestive system collapsed.

Her husband Craig, who the jury was told 'turned a blind eye' to the abuse, was also found guilty of manslaughter and wilful neglect, and jailed for three years.Background: BA (Hons) from London University 1983-86, followed by the CPE and the Law Society finals at the College of Law in Guildford from 1986-88.

She joined Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar as a trainee in 1988, qualifying in 1990.

In 1999 she was made the firm's first female partner.Route to the case: 'It was referred to me by a colleague.'Thoughts on the case: 'The case has hit national headlines and obviously had a traumatic effect on all the people living in the locality.

After the case's conclusion, a juror asked where Lauren was buried because he wanted to put some flowers on her grave.

The case is unprecedented for this area, as the amount of poverty and isolation in our rural community is often unrecognised because we live in what is a pleasant and idyllic looking rural environment.

The length of the sentence, the highest possible for manslaughter, came as something of a shock and may well have been influenced by the groundswell of public feeling about the case, and the unfortunate coincidence of the Victoria Climbie inquiry taking place simultaneously.'Dealing with the media: 'I have had some experience of press interest, but certainly have never been involved with a case that has hit the headlines to such an extent.

My team faced daily television filming, and my client asked that we deal with the media on her behalf.

It has been very difficult, as all the press coverage has been very negative.

The prosecution focused on her rather than her co-defendant, and the way she was depicted by the prosecution led to some very unfavourable coverage.'Victoria MacCallum