Case study
Karen’s journey: From crisis to courtroom success
When life threw Karen* a series of devastating blows, she feared she might never return to the career she loved. But with the support of The Solicitors’ Charity, her resilience, and the right opportunities, Karen has not only re-entered the legal profession, she’s now making a real difference in some of the most complex and sensitive areas of law.
Karen was already dealing with significant personal challenges when the pandemic struck – she had been the victim of a horrific gun ambush in the Caribbean, where she worked as a solicitor.
She came to Britain with her child, to receive hospital care and they lived with her parents. But, with her career in law derailed and her mental health deteriorating, Karen reached a breaking point. She had lost her job, her home, and her sense of purpose. That’s when she reached out to The Solicitors’ Charity.
“The Solicitors’ Charity was my lifeline, they brought back normality and gave me my independence,” she says. “The charity didn’t hesitate. They stepped in at a time when I needed it most. It wasn’t just financial help; they helped me regain my confidence.”
With the charity’s support, Karen was able to find safe housing, access counselling, and slowly begin rebuilding her life. The support the charity provided paid for furniture, flooring, white goods, household bills and a laptop – and gave her access to a personal trainer and a gym, which helped boost her recovery.
In December 2021, Karen returned to the legal world as a locum solicitor, working remotely on child safeguarding cases for several local authorities.
“I felt like myself again,” she recalls. “It was empowering to use my skills to help protect children, which is something I’ve always been passionate about.”
In May 2024, Karen secured a permanent position with a council and is now thriving in her role, working on complex legal cases that protect the rights of vulnerable children. “Just recently, I appeared in court arguing a complicated case”, Karen says. “I prepared the case myself and, while I can’t share the details, it could end up setting a legal precedent.”
The journey from hardship to such an achievement hasn’t been lost on her.
“The Solicitors’ Charity put me back on the road to recovery. Now I’m doing important work that really makes a difference to people’s lives.”
Karen’s personal life has blossomed too. She says: “I’ve bought a house. One of my children has qualified as a chef, and they are working full-time and driving now. None of this would have been possible without the charity’s assistance. I was very lucky.”
Karen’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right support, the impact can be life-changing, not just for one solicitor, but for the families and communities they serve. Stories like this make The Solicitors’ Charity proud of the work we do and show just how far our support can reach.
If you would like to support The Solicitors’ Charity to enable it to continue this great work, you can Play your Part.
Anyone seeking wellbeing support from the charity can find out more at:
*The names of all case studies have been amended to protect their identity.
