From first-generation student to trailblazing president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, John McElroy of Fieldfisher reflects on resilience, identity and the power of bringing your whole self to the law
What was your route into the profession?
I came into the profession via a fairly traditional academic route, studying Law and French at The Queen’s University of Belfast before moving to England for law school and then undertaking my training contract and qualifying as a solicitor in London.
What was less traditional is my background. I was the first in my family to go to university having been non‑privately educated. The move to London, while not unusual for lots of Irish people, was a big change for me without any contacts in law or professional services. That definitely felt like a huge leap of faith at the time, which is why I had always thought it would be temporary and that the call of home would be too great in time. Yet, almost 25 years later, I am still here and not for leaving London.
Looking back, all of these steps instilled a resilience and probably made me work all the harder knowing that the odds were largely against me; that resilience has stayed with me throughout my career.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
Without question, navigating moments of exclusion and prejudice early in my career, relating both to my sexuality and my background, was a significant challenge. There were times when imposter syndrome was very real (and indeed still is from time to time).
As an LGBTQ+ lawyer, you do not come out just once, you come out repeatedly, often in small and subtle ways, whether that’s to a new client, a new colleague, or across the table in a new matter. Each time carries a calculation: ‘How will this be received? Will it change how I’m seen? Will it affect whether I’m trusted with work, brought into the room, or given an opportunity?’
Over time, I learned that being confident in who I am and bringing my whole self to work can turn what feels like a disadvantage into a strength. Adversity can sharpen resilience, and those experiences have shaped how I mentor others and how I approach leadership, with a strong belief that people should not have to edit themselves to succeed. I now approach diversity as an asset rather than an obstacle.
I think I am the first out LGBTQ+ president of the LSLA, and that makes me very proud and humbled. I very much hope that I inspire many more and that it is no longer remarkable for an LGBTQ+ person to hold the role.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Rather than a single individual, I have been most inspired by senior people within law firms and legal organisations who actively invest in others and use their positions to help to open doors.
Throughout my career I have benefited from supportive partners and colleagues who judged me on merit and encouraged me to look for opportunities and make the most of them. That kind of quiet leadership has had the biggest impact on me.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
When in my early teenage years I had concluded that the priesthood was not for me, I always thought that I would be a teacher—specifically mathematics and languages. That was probably because it was the one profession which I had access to growing up… and maybe my careers teacher was not particularly imaginative.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
I would have to say all the characters from the mid-1990s TV drama series This Life. The diversity of that group at a time when it was even more difficult to be non-conventional in the law intrigued me, and definitely influenced my decision to consider the law as a career.
They were a mixture of intellectually formidable, independent, ambitious, principled but also emotionally complicated individuals. They were all so very different from my background, yet I wanted to be like them all in some way.
What change would you make to the profession?
I’d like to see continued momentum on diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, not just as initiatives, but as part of the profession’s culture. The last couple of years, in particular, have been challenging and what is clear from everything that is going on in the world is that without diversity in the most impactful and powerful roles in society, the world will be worse off as a result.
Talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. The legal profession is at its best when it reflects the society it serves and supports people from all backgrounds to thrive at the highest levels.
How do you relax?
Running has become an important outlet for me; it’s a way to clear my head and reset, particularly after long, intense weeks at work. I think all of my friends and colleagues would also say that I have a serious travel bug—I love seeing the world, both far and near, and doing that with my husband and family have provided me with some of my happiest and most relaxed times.
John McElroy is partner and co-head of dispute resolution at Fieldfisher, and president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association.
