The new Weightmans partner expresses her admiration for Baroness Hale
Helen Brown, partner at Weightmans, has recently joined the firm’s local government team in Leeds. She joins Weightmans from Langleys LLP, where she was deputy head of insurance law division and head of the public sector unit.
What was your route into the profession?
To be honest, pursuing a legal career was a decision I made in my early 20s. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and, like many people fresh out of university, I wasn’t sure what my next step would be. After some consideration, I decided a career in law would be a rewarding path to take. I enrolled onto the law conversion course and later joined Eversheds as a paralegal. After completing my legal practical training, I returned back to Eversheds to complete my training contract and qualified into Hammond Suddards.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
That’s an interesting question. In my previous role, I was an equity partner at Langleys LLP where I was deputy head of the insurance team. As part of the senior management team, we navigated the firm through a recession – which, as most would agree, would be a tough time for any business.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Baroness Hale, without a doubt. Why? Well, she was the first female law lord to be appointed to the House of Lords in 2004. Not only that, she has an unparalleled legal mind and is a woman of legal principle. She’s not one to follow the crowd, and I think that’s inspiring to all women working in the legal world.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternative career?
Believe it or not, I’d loved to have been a landscape gardener… Although you wouldn’t guess from the state of my garden!
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
I’m not really one for fiction about the legal world or involving lawyers. I get enough of that in my real life! But if I had to choose, I’d say Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife. I like her feisty approach to litigation.
What change would you make to the profession?
I’d make business and commercial awareness a compulsory part of legal training. As lawyers, we’re obviously trained to interpret the law, but to succeed as a business, you also need strong management, marketing and business development skills – it’s the bread and butter of running a business. Those are increasingly part and parcel of the day job and I’d like to see that reflected in legal training.
How do you relax?
Spending time with my family, first and foremost. I also enjoy running, skiing, reading and occasionally going to the cinema when I have the time.
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