From Secretary to Self-Employed Litigator to Gaining Practice Rights
When Vickki first started her legal career as a secretary in a law firm, she never imagined she would one day be running legal departments, managing teams of lawyers, or operating her own successful legal. consultancy.
“I only ever wanted to be a secretary,” she says. “I loved stationery and typing. So, when I look at where I am today, it’s still a bit of a pinch-me moment.”
Today, Vickki specialises in personal injury, clinical negligence and civil litigation, working as a self-employed legal professional who has recently obtained her Practice Rights. But her journey began many years earlier when a manager saw potential in her that she hadn’t yet recognised herself.
Seeing potential
“I started working as a secretary at a legal firm, and my boss saw something in me that I didn’t necessarily see in myself. He said he wanted to build the department and wanted me to run it.”
The firm sponsored Vickki to study through the CILEX route, while she balanced full-time work and raising two young children.
“At the time, I remember thinking, ‘I’m not going to be able to do this.’ But I had a real thirst for the law. My boss would dictate letters to me, and I’d find myself thinking, ‘I know what he’s going to say. I can do this.”
That determination led to a long and successful career. Vickki spent 20 years leading a personal injury and clinical negligence department before moving to other firms and eventually becoming self-employed.
The impact of Mazur
Having spent years managing teams and conducting litigation, the implications of the Mazur judgment came as a shock.
“It felt like I’d suddenly discovered I’d been working illegally,” she says. “I remember thinking, surely they’ve got this wrong. How could this happen?”
Like many experienced practitioners, Vickki initially experienced uncertainty about what the judgment meant for her future.
“There were a few wobbles. My business partner was away at the time and initially thought it wasn’t something we needed to worry about. But when I looked into it fully, I realised it was something I needed to address.”
At this point, Vickki faced a choice: continue working under supervision or obtain Practice Rights.
Facing the fear of assessment
For someone who had qualified more than 20 years ago, the thought of further assessment wasn’t particularly appealing.
“The little imposter syndrome was sitting on my shoulder saying, ‘Oh my gosh, you thought all your exams were over.”
Despite decades of experience, she questioned herself.
“I remember thinking, have I been winging it all these years? Do I really know what I’m doing?”
What surprised her most was how quickly those doubts disappeared.
“As I worked through the module, it actually reassured me that I did know what I was doing. It reinforced my knowledge and, in some areas, taught me things I hadn’t come across before. It actually became more than just a tick-box exercise for me.”
Instead, the process became an opportunity for Vickki to validate and strengthen the expertise she had built throughout her career.
The assessment experience
The part Vickki worried most about was the recorded assessment.
“I have video meetings with clients every single day. I’m confident advising people and explaining the law. But the thought of being assessed on a video absolutely terrified me.”
In reality, the experience was much more supportive than she expected.
“The assessor was lovely. She reassured me from the beginning and reminded me that I was simply doing what I do every day.”
Being able to prepare in advance also helped.
“You received the information beforehand, so it wasn’t a cold call. You could research, prepare notes and think about your approach. Looking back, the thought of doing it was far worse than actually doing it.”
The multiple-choice assessment also proved less daunting than expected.
“Some questions were outside my particular specialism, but the principles of civil litigation and the CPR apply across different areas. There was plenty of time to work through everything, review answers, and think carefully.”
When the results arrived, Vickki was delighted.
“I got good results, and it was empowering. It was a real confidence boost.”
More than a qualification
During the period between Mazur judgment and getting Practice Rights, Vickki worked under the supervision of a solicitor with less experience than her.
“She was mortified about it, but it wasn’t her fault. The interesting thing was that we both learned from each other.”
The professional relationship they developed continues today.
“We still regularly catch up and discuss cases. She’ll ask for my thoughts on something, and I’ll ask for hers. The learning process never stops in legal careers.”
That ongoing professional development is something Vickki strongly values.
“I qualified in 2004, but I don’t pretend to know everything. None of us do. There are always opportunities to learn.”
The value of Practice Rights
Looking back, Vickki believes gaining Practice Rights has brought benefits that go far beyond regulatory compliance.
“It gave me reassurance that I do know what I’m doing.”
For self-employed practitioners in particular, the additional autonomy is significant.
“You don’t have to ask someone else to supervise you or sign documents on your behalf. You can conduct litigation under your own steam and take full responsibility for your work.”
While there is a cost involved, she believes the long-term value far outweighs it.
“I haven’t regretted doing it for a second. It’s been a really positive experience.”
Advice for other members
For members who may still be undecided about applying for Practice Rights, Vickki has a clear message.
“Do it.”
Whether members have recently completed their studies or qualified many years ago, she believes there is value in the process.
“If you’ve recently qualified, everything is fresh in your mind. If you’ve been practising for years, it’s a valuable refresher. Either way, it’s worthwhile.”
Most importantly, she encourages members not to let fear hold them back.
“Don’t worry about remembering case names or obscure legal authorities. The assessments are about applying what you know in practice. It’s about demonstrating the skills and knowledge you use every day.”
For Vickki, the journey ultimately reinforced something she perhaps knew all along.
“It showed me that I do know what I’m doing. It gave me confidence, reassurance and greater autonomy. If you’re considering Practice Rights, my advice is simple: go for it.”