Early Careers

As England's number one legal experts in medical negligence, we support people and families affected by medical mistakes, helping them access answers, accountability, and the financial support they need to rebuild their lives.

Lisa Jordan, Managing Partner for Medical Negligence, from Birmingham, studied a law degree at Lancaster University and trained at Thompsons. She joined Irwin Mitchell as a Partner in 1999 (when 9 months pregnant). She says:

"We cover not just medical negligence claims acting for injured patients but also Abuse claims arising out of allegations of child abuse against schools, religious organisations and other institutions. We also have a Group Actions team who handle medical negligence claims with multiple claimants that we often refer to as the ‘rogue doctor’ cases and they also handle product liability claims. 

 

"You’ll need good people skills preferably including being a good listener, a questioning mindset, attention to detail and ambition. 

 

"Life at Irwin Mitchell is varied, challenging, fascinating (most of the time), heart-breaking ( some of the time I wonder how some of our clients have coped with the tragedy that life has thrown at them), hard work, rewarding." 

As England's number one legal experts in personal injury, we help clients recover after serious injuries and life-changing accidents, from road traffic collisions and workplace incidents to complex international claims.

Tracey Storey, Partner in the Personal Injury team, from Norfolk, went to a comprehensive school in Norwich, then Cambridge University to study history. She was trained at Cozens Hardy and Jewson in Norwich and then moved back to London. She joined Irwin Mitchell in 2003 as an associate, became a partner in 2006 and now the Managing Partner of Personal Injury, a national role but still London based. She says:

"In personal injury, we cover serious personal injury claims for compensation, including brain injury, spinal injury, amputations and fatalities, often from road collisions or incidents at work. We have a specialist asbestos and occupational disease team, often dealing with life limiting or life ending illness. 

 

We also have a specialist military claims team working with those injured from the Armed Forces, international serious injury teams dealing with accidents or illness abroad and public health cases and a specialist criminal injuries compensation team. We offer a comprehensive service to clients whose lives have been shattered or foreshortened by injury or illness and I am proud that we are the market leading PI practice. 

 

"The key attributes for me are having the ability to communicate well on all levels – in PI, we speak to a diverse client base, barristers, judges, doctors and other healthcare professionals and experts. Your client could be someone with a high level of social disadvantage or someone with significant privilege. Emotional intelligence is very important as well as a fair degree of resilience – we come into people’s lives when the worse has happened and they look to us for solutions and working as a team, we focus on adding value and that client journey to help rebuild their lives or to help them with financial security after loss.

 

"Irwin Mitchell has a pretty unique work culture. We have challenging and rewarding work which stretches and develops us and brilliant teams who work together to provide support and training. There is investment in charities, fundraising, volunteering, diversity and inclusion groups and the opportunity to get involved from the start." 

Our Court of Protection and Public Law teams protect the rights and interests of vulnerable people, ensuring they receive the support, care, and representation they need when important decisions have to be made.

Niall Baker attended North Staffs Polytechnic, studied LLB(Hons). He trained at Irwin Mitchell and has been at the firm for 35 years. He's the Managing Partner of CoP and PLHR and works in our Sheffield office. He says:

"The Court of Protection (COP) team make decisions on behalf of people who can’t make those decision themselves. The Court can also decide whether a person lacks mental capacity and can appoint someone who’s been approved to look after their affairs. 

 

"If the best interest of a vulnerable person needs protecting we can make sure they won’t be exploited or denied their rights. 

"Our Public law and human rights (PLHR) lawyers can help with legal challenge if someone feels that their rights have been infringed. It could be government departments, local councils, hospitals, care homes, health trusts or any public body.

 

"While we aim to resolve cases with negotiation and mediation wherever possible, we’ve previously taken proceedings all the way to the Supreme Court, European Court of Justice, and the European Court of Human Rights. 

 

"The key attributes you need are enthusiasm, desire to learn, great communication skills, attention to detail, and work well as part of a team. "I have only worked at Irwin Mitchell and would not want to work anywhere else. The firm has a real family feel to me. We work hard in an enjoyable a supportive environment." 

Our Private Client offering specialises in residential property, family, Wills, tax, as well as trusts and estate disputes. We protect high and ultra-high net worth individuals, including business owners and entrepreneurs, corporate executives, investors, and multi-generational families. 

Ros Bever, Managing Partner for Private Client, from Manchester, attended Leeds University, trained at Jones Goodall, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Joined Irwin Mitchell in April 2011, Managing Partner of the Private Client Group. She says:

"Our clients come to us to protect wealth and family. They may need guidance and legal support in planning the transfer of their business to the next generation, or dealing with a challenging marital or relationship situation. They may be UK or international trustees or advisers who need support in their own work for clients or who are facing a claim by a disgruntled beneficiary. Whoever they are and whatever their need, we provide them with pragmatic and clear advice that is focussed on their needs now and in the future.

 

"As Irwin Mitchell is a full-service law firm, we are able to draw upon expertise in all areas of law to ensure that our clients have advice and representation that is complete, cost-effective and takes into account all their needs. For example, in a divorce involving a family-owned business, we can bring together our experts in family law, corporate law and tax to work as a close and efficient team to get the best result possible for our client. 

 

"We know that every family, its wealth and its relationships is unique and often changes as time passes. Our advice deals with the now but also thinks of the future. 

 

"The skills I think you need are to be a great communicator, empathy, solution focused/ and a problem solver.

 

"#LifeAtIM is collegiate and lots of camaraderie... future-oriented and thinking differently." 

Our corporate/commercial legal teams are a £60 million business with a national presence, global reach, and a local feel with 350+ colleagues across six locations.  We have established experts covering financial services, living, renewable energy, manufacturing, consumer, sport, education, and technology, and can offer a range of legal advice from corporate, commercial, banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency, litigation, employment, property and more which means an exciting time working across multiple sectors with national and regional clients.

We offer tailored guidance to businesses when it comes to navigating environmental, social, and governance. Find out more about ESG. 

Our Corporate Services departments also offers opportunities for apprentices to work in non-legal teams while supporting our fee earners and the business to achieve its goals and strategy, including in Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, and more.

We’re proud to be part of First Law International — a prestigious global network of over 80 elite-ranked law firms spanning more than 100 countries, enabling us to provide seamless, high-quality legal support to our clients worldwide. 

Fergal Dowling, Managing Partner of the Business Services Group, from Sutton Coldfield, studied an LLB from Birmingham. Trained at Rigbeys in Birmingham, who merged with Irwin Mitchell back in 1996. He says:

"We are a full-service offering to the mid-corporate market supporting businesses and their owners through the full lifecycle of their business from start-up to growth and insolvency to exit. We understand the complex world of law and business and therefore all our advice and discussions reflect potential business implications as well as legal ones. We want to help our clients stay one step ahead and make smart decisions that increase their profits and decrease their risk. Our ability to problem solve and collaborate ensures clients come back to us. 

 

"The key attributes for me are diligent, curious, meticulous, open minded and enthusiastic about what we do. 

 

"After 32 years, I think you can safely say that I’m quite taken with #LifeAtIM… 

 

"I have the privilege to work with some great clients and fantastic people who are passionate about what they do."