What is life like at a niche personal injury firm?

I am a solicitor with White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors. I initially studied IT at university, before deciding to pursue a career in law. I graduated from The College of Law (now the University of Law) in 2007 and began working for a City law firm, before moving to a large regional firm. My time spent working in other areas of law was not wasted; it has equipped me with knowledge which has proved invaluable when I began my training contract with White Dalton in 2012.

I joined White Dalton as a paralegal, but was quickly offered a training contract once I had proved my ability to deal with the work.

The work I do

I have represented a client who, as a result of a motorcycle accident, unfortunately had his leg amputated. The police forensic collision report indicated that the client's indicator was on at the time of the index accident, which the third-party insurer relied on in order to try to reduce the client’s damages claim.

I attended the scene of the near-fatal collision and conducted a locus investigation. I was then able to obtain the indicator bulbs from the police and instruct a top forensic investigator, whose subsequent report casted doubt on the police’s findings. I fought against the police and their forensic scientist’s findings. I fought the insurer on their stance in respect of liability. The net result of my work was liability being admitted in full and my client obtaining all of the damages due to him, which was a sizeable sum due to his life-changing injuries.

The firm

The words 'niche' and 'personal injury' do not usually go in the same sentence. However, that is exactly how I would describe White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors. White Dalton is a specialist law firm, representing motorcyclists, where all of the lawyers are qualified barristers and/or solicitors, and are motorcyclists themselves. I currently have two motorcycles; a Honda CBR600RR and a Suzuki DRZ400S.

There is a real emphasis on being technically very good at what you do, but also enjoying life outside of work. I occasionally find myself working late, when urgent court work needs to be done, but this is very much the exception, rather than the rule.

The work

The work really is quite varied. I do not deal with straight-forward, whiplash-type claims; the injuries motorcyclists sustain are quite often serious and, sometimes, life changing. This means claims are often litigated and I regularly attend court, not only on my own claims, but also on behalf of the other solicitors in the office. This is the part of the job that I enjoy the most and the firm encourages its solicitors to attend court.

While the majority of my work revolves around civil litigation; I also assist the managing partner with privately funded criminal work involving road traffic matters. This can include speeding offences and driving without due care and attention through to the more serious criminal charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

I also get involved in other aspects of law, including representing motorcyclists who have had accidents abroad, restoring companies, setting up personal injury trusts and representing the families of deceased motorcyclists at coroner inquests.

Culture

As a firm of motorcyclists, we enjoy the freedom motorcycles offer. There is a real camaraderie to the team and we regularly organise work ride outs. Earlier this year we toured France and Belgium to mark the centenary of the First World War. This particular trip is being featured by RIDE magazine and will be published later this year.

White Dalton encourages its solicitors to engage with technology and I regularly use Twitter and Facebook, and blog about the places we go and things we do.

I am in the enviable position of working in a close-knit firm of lawyers who are fellow petrol heads, technically excellent at what they do and supportive of my desire to get as much exposure to the element of the job I enjoy the most - being an advocate in court.

Gavin Grewal is a solicitor at White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors.