Suzanne Williams

I started my legal career as a trainee solicitor in the civil department of a well-known legal aid firm. It was the traditional baptism of fire and I regularly saw up to 8 new clients per day in my tiny, cupboard-like office. I realised quickly that the people I saw were often seeking help at a time of great crisis in their lives, dealing with issues such as marital breakdown, losing their jobs, or suffering debilitating injuries after an accident. I sympathised with my clients as they confided in me and would often say to colleagues that sometimes I felt more like a counsellor than a lawyer. Following my traineeship, I chose to specialise in personal injury work and after a brief stint acting for insurers, I realised that I much preferred working in a client facing role. I found my niche working in the serious injury department of a large personal injury law firm.   Working with clients who had suffered brain injury and spinal cord injury, I witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of these injuries on clients and their families. It was rewarding to assist clients to obtain advance damages payments to fund rehabilitation packages and to see the difference this could make to outcomes. I enjoyed working with a team of medical, vocational and care experts to build the case and secure the best possible settlement for my clients. My experience in this field has been recognised by the Law Society of Scotland, who have awarded me the Specialist in Personal Injury accreditation, and I am also accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) as a Senior Litigator and Brain Injury Specialist.

Many of my clients have suffered severe psychological trauma and I found that this aspect of the work coincided with one of my other areas of interest – psychology. I had studied psychology at university prior to studying law and eventually decided to pursue this interest further. I studied counselling and psychotherapy on a part-time basis eventually receiving my Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy in June 2023. I have also undertaken ASIST suicide intervention skills training in suicide first aid.

From my first encounter with Land M Medilaw it was clear to me that the firm’s values were completed aligned with my own desire to work with clients from a trauma informed perspective. I leapt at the chance to work with Elizabeth Rose and her team to deliver legal services in a more compassionate and holistic way.

I continue to do counselling work one day per week and feel that this experience enhances my skills as a solicitor, enabling me to provide empathic support to clients throughout the legal process.