Breaking Barriers: Hayley’s Journey from a Liverpool Council Estate to Commercial Law
"You don't belong here."
It’s an ugly, nagging thought. For many aspiring lawyers, it’s a whisper that follows them from their first lecture to their first day in chambers or a law firm. If you didn’t go to a private school, if your parents aren't partners at a Magic Circle firm, or if your accent sounds more 'street' than 'polished,' that whisper can feel like a shout.
At Speed Mooting, we don’t just teach advocacy and legal skills; we believe the legal profession should be a reflection of the society it serves. That mission isn’t just a corporate slogan: it’s personal.
Here's my story as the full-time Legal Director at Speed Mooting. I hope it gives you some proof that where you start doesn’t have to dictate where you finish, and that it also highlights exactly why we need to do more to fix social mobility in law.
The Liverpool Roots: No Connections, No Map
I grew up on a council estate in Liverpool. To put it bluntly, my world was about as far removed from the Inns of Court as you can get.
I had zero connections to the law. There were no family friends to offer a cheeky week of work experience. There was no one to explain the difference between a solicitor and a barrister over Sunday lunch. In fact, there were no connections to the world of corporate business at all.
I was also the first person in my family to go to university. That’s a huge achievement, but it’s also a lonely one. When you’re a first-generation student, you’re not just studying for a degree; you’re trying to learn the rules of a game that everyone else seems to have been playing since birth.
The Manchester Shock and the Imposter Monster
When I headed to Manchester for university, the "Invisible Wall" became very real.
I wasn't just in a different city; sometimes I felt like I was on a different planet. Surrounded by peers who spoke differently, dressed differently, and seemed to possess an innate confidence that I lacked, I was hit hard by imposter syndrome, but I continued on.
The Professional Climb: Dealing with the Bias
I didn’t walk into a training contract on day one. I took the long way around, starting as a paralegal and working my way through volume litigation into more complex senior compliance roles.
I wasn’t a barrister standing up in court every day, but I built my career in commercial property litigation. My work focused on the details and I loved it: managing disputes, advising clients, handling pressure, and for the most part, solving problems before they ever reached a court room.
Over time, I learned that my background isn't a weakness; it's actually my "unique selling point." Authenticity builds trust with clients in a way that a polished, fake persona never can.
Finding Belonging in Commercial Law
I never lost my accent (despite being told by a Crown Court Judge that I needed to!). I used my background to connect with clients, especially those in Liverpool and Manchester who could relate to me. Despite all the setbacks and insecurities, I thrived in commercial law.
I found belonging not by trying to fit into a pre-made mould, but by excelling at the job. I realised that my perspective: coming from a working-class background: gave me a level of grit, resilience, and common sense that some of my more privileged peers lacked.
I wasn't an imposter. I was an asset!
Today, I try to brings my perspective to my role as the full-time Legal Director at Speed Mooting, where I help aspiring lawyers build the confidence and practical skills that I had to develop the hard way.
Why Social Mobility is the Heart of Speed Mooting
This is exactly why John Dove (our CEO) and I are so passionate about what we do at Speed Mooting.
We know that there is a massive pool of talent in the UK that is being overlooked because they don't have the "right" look or the "right" connections. We want to be the bridge over that gap.
Improving access isn't just about being "nice." It’s about the health of the legal profession. If every lawyer comes from the same three-mile radius and the same type of school, the law becomes a closed shop. It loses touch with the people it's supposed to serve.
How We Are Levelling the Playing Field
We don’t believe in gatekeeping. We believe in "stair-keeping": providing the steps for you to climb. Here is how we’re tackling social mobility right now:
Practical Skills over Pedigree: We don’t care where you went to school. We care about how you handle a witness and how you structure a legal argument.
Low-Pressure Practice: Our events, like our upcoming Plea in Mitigation Competition are designed to be high-impact but low-stress. We want you to make mistakes here so you don’t make them in front of a judge.
The Legal Skills Academy: This is our flagship community. It’s where we’ve combined all our advocacy training into one place. It’s a space where you can find the mentorship Hayley had to fight for. You can check it out at speedmooting.com/legal-skills-academy.
Community Support: You’ll find people from all walks of life in our community. No one is checking your bank balance or your family tree.
3 Tips for Aspiring Lawyers from Working-Class Backgrounds
If you're reading this and feeling like the odds are stacked against you, here is some advice from my journey:
1. Own Your Story
Don't try to hide your background. Whether you worked in a retail job, grew up on an estate, or were the first to go to uni: these are signs of work ethic and resilience. Law firms are increasingly looking for "distance travelled." Show them how far you’ve come.
2. Focus on the "Doing"
Imposter syndrome thrives in the abstract. When you are actually doing the work: practising a moot, writing a skeleton argument, or interviewing a client: the "feeling" of not belonging disappears. Focus on building your practical skills.
3. Build Your Own Network
If you weren't born with a network, build one. Attend events like our upcoming Northern Pupillage Fair, join the Legal Skills Academy, and reach out to people who have journeys similar to yours. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to pull you up once they see you’re putting in the work.
The Law is Yours, Too
Law shouldn't be an exclusive club for the elite. It’s a profession for the sharpest minds and the most dedicated future lawyers, regardless of their postcode.
I went from a Liverpool council estate to a career in commercial property litigation and then to a leadership role as Legal Director at Speed Mooting. I didn't do this by following the "traditional" path; I did it by being relentless, pushing through imposter syndrome, and refusing to believe that background should define potential.
If you’re feeling like an outsider, remember: we built Speed Mooting specifically for you.
Come and join us. Let’s prove that the best lawyers aren't born: they’re made.
