The newly-appointed Dean of the University of Law's Leeds campus, Matthew Tomlinson, discusses the delights of coming full circle
What was your route into the profession?
I came into the profession through a non-law route. I did my undergraduate degree in international business and modern languages which took me to Paris working for a commercial real estate firm. It was working with French solicitors in this role that inspired me to pursue a career in law and I returned to study the GDL and LPC at the then College of Law—the same institution that I am now a Dean of. I’ve come full circle!
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
I think that it has to be my decision to leave private practice and pursue a career in education. Having gone through the trials and tribulations of securing a training contract and then the fight to obtain a position in my chosen area of specialism on qualification (in the depths of the recession!) and then having built up a level of post-qualified experience, it was a difficult decision to move into another field. Getting into a teaching role was not at all easy either. Junior lecture positions were hard to come by and when they did they were very competitive. The transition out of private practice to successfully being taken on as a tutor saw me working as a visiting lecturer in evenings and at weekends whilst still working full time in practice. However, I knew I wanted a more creative and dynamic role and I saw this being met in legal education. Luckily it paid off, I got to use my skill set from practice in a different context and I can honestly say I have never looked back. I am passionate about what I do and the career that I have been able to forge with the University.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
I have been fortunate enough to have come into contact with many inspiring lawyers during my time with the University who have educated me about their very different areas of practice. However, if I had to pick one individual, I think it would be Baroness Hale. Her appointment as president of the Supreme Court has broken glass ceilings in terms of equality and diversity within not only the judiciary but the wider legal profession. She is an inspiration to aspiring solicitors, and in fact, visited the University last year to speak to our students. She’s also a Yorkshire woman.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
Well, I am not strictly a lawyer anymore so I guess I am living my alternate career and genuinely love it. In another life, I think I would like to have gone into property renovation/interior designer. I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to renovating old houses—I guess I like to put love back into something that has been unloved.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Ally McBeal was a favourite show when I was a teenager. It’s funny—every law lecturer I know brings a reference to a legal TV series from their ‘era’ into the classroom. However, none of the students have ever heard of Ally McBeal, never mind LA Law—and it tends to have the effect of making you feel very old.
What change would you make to the profession?
I’d like to see more public funds put into access to justice schemes. Having been involved with the Pro Bono Clinics that the University run, it is eye-opening how much social need there is for basic legal advice or representation, especially from the most vulnerable members of our society. I think pro bono clinics make a vital contribution to this limited provision and it would be great to see more firms get involved with these initiatives.
How do you relax?
I have a three-year-old daughter and a mad springer spaniel so relaxation time mostly involves some open countryside for some fresh air and the girls to run off some steam. Otherwise, I’ll be doing some DIY on the house.
