The specialist medical injury solicitor reveals his psychology background & legal inspirations
Specialist medical injury solicitor Mark Tempest was recently appointed as head of the specialist serious injury team within medical negligence at Fletchers Solicitors.
What was your route into the profession?
I had successfully completed my degree in psychology and was considering a career in clinical psychology. Then I met someone who was taking the common professional examination and became interested in the law, I did some work experience and then changed route. My psychology background became invaluable later when I began to specialise in brain injury cases.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
In the early noughties, after the first wave of market liberalisation which came with implementation of the Access to Justice Act 2000, our PI practice was growing at a rapid pace and at the same time, we were responding to increased competition, uncertainty and satellite litigation over costs. As the only PI partner in a medium-sized mixed practice, I carried a lot of responsibility and the pace was intense. I could not have done it without the support and understanding of my partners.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
I was inspired to build a practice in serious personal injury and medical negligence by the example set by Michael Napier and Rodger Panonne, whose work in the eighties did so much to improve the rights of people injured because of negligence. In particular, their joint disaster litigation practice was groundbreaking. I was lucky to meet them both later and became a partner with Michael for a short time before his retirement.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
I think I would have enjoyed working as a psychologist as part of a university team researching the functions of the brain. I am really fascinated by the advances that have been made in neuro sciences over the last three decades.
Who are your favourite fictional lawyers?
Alicia Florrick for the way she navigates partnership, the law, conflict and politics; Carey Argos for hard work and resilience in testing times and Diane Lockhart for never allowing idealism to fade.
What change would you make to the profession?
It is not a change exactly but I would like to see us confidently adapt to recent law reform, market liberalisation and austerity to offer a truly modern and relevant service to the public. It is only a work in progress at the moment.
How do you relax?
Many different ways but a walk on the Knavesmire, the local name for the racecourse in York near where I live, with my dogs usually does it.
