“It was about trying to get justice for the women in my town”

I work in an area that a lot of people find uncomfortable – it’s one of the reasons why it’s often just brushed under the carpet. People can’t cope with addressing it or accept that it's happening.

My specialism is representing adult survivors of child sexual exploitation – usually abuse by grooming gangs. We look at what’s happened to them and which organisations failed to protect them as children. Essentially, we’re trying to help them get justice and damages for what they’ve been through. Aside from that, we also hand-hold our clients through the criminal justice system and ensure that they have wraparound support.

Doing what you say you’re going to do, when you say you're going to do it, is the most important thing when working with survivors. With the kind of casework I do, that type of mistake would be a huge issue. My client probably hasn’t slept the night before the call because they’re worrying about having to relive what's happened to them. Often, they’ve been let down by so many professionals already – if you don’t keep your word, you risk becoming another disappointment and someone else they feel they are unable to trust.

You can’t do ‘small talk’ in the line of work I do. I haven’t found that an issue, because I’m not afraid to talk about child sexual abuse. Unless you stand up for change, you won’t see it. Earlier this year, I was involved in the Channel 4 documentary Groomed: A national scandal because I wanted to advocate for positive change on behalf of my clients. I also want them to know that the person they’ve instructed supports them and understands the adversity they’ve faced.

There are periods of time when we talk about child abuse as a society – and then suddenly it’s brushed under the carpet again. There needs to be an ongoing conversation and action that tackles it. The protection of our children in society is absolutely crucial, or you end up with generations of adults affected by childhood trauma.

Amy as a newly qualified solicitor.

The path to my practice area

Growing up, my dad told me I’d make a good lawyer because I was always asking ‘why?’. Then, when I was at school, my mum and dad got a divorce. I remember being intrigued by the legal process.

I wanted to be a family lawyer initially – but, perhaps because of my background and childhood experiences, I found it didn’t suit me. I’d wanted to go into law to make a difference – but I didn’t feel like I was making the kind of difference I wanted to make.

I was seconded to Switalskis and undertook a seat in the child care team – and I realised I was often representing people who had been let down by the system. There, I found a cycle affecting victims. Lots of women, in particular, who had been abused as children or were being subjected to domestic violence were having their children removed from them. Those children were then affected by issues in the care system. It was then that I decided I wanted to be a voice for survivors.

Amy with Graham Roberts, her first boss, who has been a mentor to her during her career.

When I was 24 years old, the Jay Report – an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in my hometown, Rotherham – came out. The team at Switalskis were taking the lead on those cases, and I had a real interest in being involved. So, upon qualification, I made a beeline to join the child abuse team. I’m glad I did, and I am really proud of the work we do.

I could remember girls being taken by older men in cars outside my school gates. I was a child at the time, so I didn’t quite recognise that child sexual exploitation was taking place. I remember thinking it could have easily been me. I was the same age and going to the same schools.

I hoped that because I was familiar with the area, it would be easier for survivors to share their accounts with me. I knew if I took a witness statement, I’d recognise all the Rotherham locations and schools. It was so close to home. There had been significant failings by the authorities – it was about trying to get justice for the women in my town.

So far, Switalskis has represented a large number of women who were subjected to abuse in Rotherham. We’ve become experts in our field and now represent survivors of child sexual exploitation up and down the country.

Protecting your wellbeing

It’s important to be empathetic as a solicitor, but you need to have boundaries too. That’s something that takes a long time to learn. All my clients have significant mental health issues. I’m listening to harrowing stories all day. Often, when I speak to clients, they are either upset or angry – not at me, but at the situation they have found themselves in, and the realisation of how much they have been failed by people who were supposed to protect them.

If you’re starting out in an emotive area of law, you need to be aware of vicarious trauma. Make sure you put routines in place to look after yourself. If you lead a team, even simple things can make an impact, like letting people know they can take a break whenever they need to.

Most people I know, in the legal sector and outside it, have struggled with their mental health at some point. I was involved with the Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) of the Law Society for a number of years, and I would receive lots of accounts of junior solicitors who were burned out and struggling.

I’ve continued to hear stories of burnout throughout my career. That is why I became a mental health first aider to best support my colleagues within the firm. I’m also trauma-trained to ensure that I can support my clients, my fellow colleagues and protect myself from burnout and vicarious trauma.

Self-care looks different for everyone. It’s important to find what works best for you. For me, it’s long walks with my two dogs, Campbell and Kai, long baths and cups of tea. I also enjoy cooking, drawing and yoga.

Amy with her two dogs.

Taking time to reflect

I’d definitely encourage people to get involved in organisations like the Law Society. The soft skills you'll learn are priceless. And the people you’ll meet will become lifelong friends. I’m a Law Society Council member in the Yorkshire and Humberside seat and some of my closest friends are those I met during my time on the JLD. I’m also certain that the soft skills I learnt on the JLD have assisted me in navigating my career.

Not many people know much about what we talk about on Council. We discuss everything that affects the profession – from regulation and lobbying to the Law Society’s 200-year anniversary. We’re involved in all aspects of Law Society strategy. Being involved is the best way to make a difference in the legal sector.

One of my proudest moments was when I became a director at Switalskis. It had never been something I strived for, and it didn’t feel real. I didn’t come from a particularly nice part of Rotherham. I went to a state school and a former polytechnic – I didn’t think somebody like me would ever be able to be a director of a law firm.

If I was to give advice to my younger self, it would be to worry less. I spent a lot of my junior years worrying my dream of pursuing law was going to be taken from under my feet – that I’d do something silly or someone would realise I was a ‘fraud’! Looking back, I don’t think I was very present and I wish I’d enjoyed my early 20s more. If you are an aspiring lawyer, it can be easy to become wrapped up in your career and goals. Enjoy your work, but ensure you make time for yourself too.

Amy with her firm's new cohort of trainees and apprentices alongside her colleague, Jaron Shahidi, talent manager.