Rising to the top

If I could offer any advice to prospective solicitors, I would say try and get a support role at a local firm, work your bum off and do your best to stand out. I did my degree at Lincolnshire & Humberside University. At the same time I worked at a local high-street firm as a typist. They ended up giving me a training contract after finishing my LPC. I had seats in crime, conveyancing and personal injury during my training contract, but I was drawn to crime.

As a newly qualified solicitor, I moved to another local law firm to practise criminal defence. I loved it. Each day varied massively. I could be in court one minute, then advising someone at the police station the next. After a few years of defence I fancied a new challenge. I had the opportunity to move to the Crown Prosecution Service as a crown prosecutor. It was a change of perspective for me, especially as I now had to rigorously follow the procedures I had picked holes in while defending clients.

I was given a permanent role as district crown prosecutor in 2008. I managed the Magistrates' Unit for Humberside, which encompassed the magistrates' courts and youth courts. I had a team of around 30. As well as my management role, I would advise the police on serious cases and deal with fatal road traffic cases. It was a big responsibility, not just the role itself, but every day I would be deciding on how to proceed with cases where the defendant was in custody. I tried not to over think that; I was there to do a job and I had to be professional.

I was very aware that I was performing a public role. I enjoyed liaising with the police and the courts. On the one hand I was given so much more respect compared to when I was a crown prosecutor, but on the other hand, I was regularly underestimated because I was young and female. I didn't let that hold me back. Looking back, it was a great experience, but I really missed doing criminal work. My role was based mainly in management.

In 2011 I met up with a friend I used to work with called Roberta. She offered me the chance to work at her firm, doing clinical negligence and traffic defence work. I wanted to work with her again and saw it as a fresh challenge. I have since been made a director at the firm. Mason & Co Solicitors used to be a niche personal injury firm, but it is now expanding to offer services in other areas of high-street law. We are keeping ahead of the competition by offering DIY divorce packages on our website and there are plenty of other quirky ideas in the pipeline. Plus, all the staff are feisty ladies! I am so excited to see what the next few years hold.

Looking back on my career so far, I have packed so much in. I didn't need to move to London to have a fulfilling, challenging legal career and I don't regret any of my decisions. I would definitely recommend getting a foot in the door at a local firm and seeing where it takes you; at the very least you will get some valuable work experience. There is no substitute for hard work and dedication, so get out there, work hard and get noticed.

Sally Laycock is a director at Mason & Co Solicitors.