Serving as a Legal Officer

What were you doing before joining the Army? Did you have any links to the Military, Cadets, UOTC or Regular/Reserves service before applying?

I commissioned into the Army Legal Services (ALS) in 2015. Prior to this, I was a criminal barrister practising at the self-employed Bar. I had no affiliation with the Military prior to joining.

Why did you consider a career within the Army?

Whilst I loved the nature of the work, there were aspects I found difficult such as the uncertainty of getting briefs, inability to plan ahead or find time to pursue my pastimes/socialise. Having appeared in the Court Martial a number of times, and spoken with ALS officers on each occasion, I was fascinated by the role of Army lawyers, even beyond the courtroom. When I applied, I didn’t know what I expected from an Army career beyond, at the minimum, plugging the gaps I had identified in my career at the criminal Bar. I certainly didn’t expect that ten years later I would be reflecting on the rich and fulfilling career I have enjoyed so far in the ALS, excited at the prospect of what the next decade has in store for me in Service.

Which postings have you undertaken and what sort of situations/legal issues have you advised on?

Within the ALS, officers rotate around postings available to their rank every two years, which provides every officer with a breadth of legal experience. In the advisory sphere, I have advised the chain of command (CoC) on Criminal, Service Law and administrative matters, Employment Law issues, in both the Army’s internal grievance system and the Employment Tribunal and delivered training packages to various formations on all of these. I have also appeared in the Court Martial before Judge Advocates, representing the CoC in the conduct of custody applications. Operationally, I have advised the CoC on the application of LOAC in barracks, on exercise and operations and have delivered training to ALS officers, personnel from the other services and foreign nations. Career highlights include spending three months in Brunei with The First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles where I deployed on exercise both to Kenya and into the Bruneian jungle, attending a legal symposium at West Point Military Academy and deploying to Iraq on operations as the Legal Advisor.

How has the Army supported and developed your legal career?

I have developed markedly as a lawyer since joining the Army. I credit the breadth of experience gained through being afforded the chance to practise in a wide variety of legal fields, working for, and with, an array of officers, both legal and non-legal, and being exposed to different leadership styles. The Army has supported my professional development through facilitating my delivery of/attendance on legal courses, seminars and conferences. I have also had opportunities to attend non-legal events which have enhanced my understanding of the organisation within which I work, improving my knowledge of the ‘client’ so as to deliver the best legal advice that I can. Leadership training and education provided by the ALS and the wider Army has, amongst other things, improved my decision-making on professional matters and provided me with confidence to access the opportunities offered. It has also caused me to reflect on the qualities I admire in leaders as I strive to be the best role model I can for our junior officers.

What has been the impact on work-life balance?

A good work-life balance was a key driver for me joining the ALS. Personally, I struggled to achieve any balance at the self-employed Bar; all too often, I found myself in court Monday to Saturday, and catching up with work/preparing for the following week in Chambers on a Sunday – the work was all-consuming. Since joining the Army, whilst there are times I work over a weekend (if on duty or deployed on exercise/operations), in general my working week is Monday to Friday, and I have time to pursue other activities/hobbies; I play Army Netball, am the Secretary of the Army Servicewomen’s Network, and have participated in Battlefield Studies and Adventurous Training including skiing, sailing and trekking expeditions all over the world. I also have more time to spend with my family, which I cherish.