In her own words: Erin Alcock

In the latest in our series of interviews with CILEX members, we spoke to Erin Alcock, senior associate in the human rights and public law team at Leigh Day, about her route into the law, her work with Afghan evacuees and her surprise at being name-checked by justice minister Sarah Sackman in her CILEX conference speech

When I left school, I decided not to go into higher education. I was brought up in Australia and New Zealand and at 19 wanted to travel, to experience life and find out what was out there. I moved to the UK, worked and visited a lot of countries where people were less fortunate than I was growing up.

My experience got me interested in human rights and I opted to study for a degree in international relations. Whilst a student, I started working at Leigh Day as a temp.

It was a great place to work and the firm’s focus on combatting injustice gave me an insight into how a career in the law would give me the opportunity to help others, particularly the most vulnerable. After graduation, I began working as a paralegal in the human rights and public law team and considered my options for qualifying as a lawyer.

A balancing act

I was well into my 20s by then, with rent and living costs to think about. Unlike the traditional legal practice course and training contract route, CILEX offered me the chance to study whilst continuing to work full time. I already had some experience working in other areas of the law and knew where I wanted to specialise, so the CILEX route made the most sense.

It wasn’t easy – managing work and study was a difficult balancing act and it was hard to fit much else into my life at that time. It helped that the course was designed to be flexible and work for people like me in full-time employment. My supervisor was very supportive and everything I was doing during my working day was helping me build up my portfolio, contributing towards the qualification.

I became a Chartered Legal Executive after around four years and, over that time, developed my expertise in human rights cases, taking on more responsibility. On qualification, I was promoted to associate and more recently became a senior associate.

Making a difference

The last four years of my career have been dominated by my work for evacuees from Afghanistan. Since the 2021 withdrawal of UK and US troops, I’ve helped more than 100 families escape and come to the UK.

“For many clients, you are their only lifeline and that is a lot of responsibility to take on; there are women who are being persecuted and children whose lives will be changed immeasurably if your case succeeds”

It’s demanding work and many of the stories of those I am acting for have been very hard to hear – they have been in unimaginably horrific situations and have experienced hugely traumatic events.

For many clients, you are their only lifeline and that is a lot of responsibility to take on; there are women who are being persecuted and children whose lives will be changed immeasurably if your case succeeds. It’s a privilege to work in a field where you can make that kind of difference.

As well as working on the Afghan cases, I’ve also spent the last 10 years on the team acting for a former police officer turned whistleblower involved in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. He finally gave his evidence in December last year, so my role in that case will soon come to an end.

Given most of the evacuation cases have now been resolved, this time next year I’m likely to be working on something completely new. It’s an interesting time for me, figuring out what’s next and where I can use my skills and experience to make a difference.

Support for CILEX members

It’s been a difficult time for CILEX members like me who work in litigation. I have been granted my practice rights but the Mazur judgment has thrown up a lot of uncertainty for myself and my Chartered Legal Executive colleagues. There’s been a lot of support – senior barristers have reached out to me to offer help and advice, and I’ve got to know my CILEX colleagues better than before as we’ve come together to navigate through this. I hope the appeal judgment brings everyone more clarity.

I’m currently helping one of our paralegals through the CPQ. I’ve always been a big supporter of the CILEX route because of the flexibility and the opportunity it offers to improve diversity in the profession.

I’ve seen respect for CILEX lawyers grow over the years and I hope Mazur has not set that back. It was surprising but heartening to be name-checked by Sarah Sackman KC MP in her conference speech on the important role CILEX members play in the justice system.