My legal life: Dion Calder, Bailey Wright & Co

I completed my law degree at Keele University, graduating in 2013. I then did the Legal Practice Course part-time for two years at the University of Law in Birmingham. I had not prioritised work experience during my studies so I spent the first year of my LPC at the Witness Support Service, Citizens Advice Bureau and a legal advice centre in Handsworth. There was no student loan funding at the time so, after a year, I needed to work to support myself while studying. After a short stint at a factory, I got a job in a school as an administrative assistant. I was employed at the school for the remainder of my studies. 

Though I enjoyed working in the school, my dream (after accepting I would not make it as a professional footballer) was to be a solicitor. Once I had completed my studies, the school was aware that I was actively looking for a job in the legal sector.

I have always been most interested in two areas of law: crime and family. These were the areas that most affected some of my family members, friends and even my community as a whole. Growing up, I saw and was told about numerous situations where people did not, in my opinion, achieve a ‘fair result’. I am passionate about achieving justice and this continues to motivate me. I want to be a voice for those who do not feel heard.

I met my firm’s principal solicitor, Karen Bailey, at a Birmingham Black Lawyers event. Through networking, I eventually gained a job in her firm as a paralegal and have been here since, progressing to a training contract and qualifying as a solicitor. I was extremely fortunate to gain the opportunity to work in such a well-respected firm.

'I often tell the story of being in university and wanting to have a photograph of a black male solicitor to put on my wall. I did not know one, so I ended up putting up a picture of a black man in a suit'

I first became aware of the Birmingham Black Lawyers group during my studies at the University of Law. I was told of a Black History Month event during my first year, which I attended. I remember being very nervous but the organisation’s co-chairs were welcoming. One in particular, Tamina Greaves, gave me the opportunity to shadow her and members of the firm where she worked. She also recommended me for a legal position at another firm and, when I was interviewed for a role at my current firm, agreed to provide a reference. Once I had gained some experience, I was keen to give back and help others in the same way that I had been helped.

My role in Birmingham Black Lawyers as a university liaison officer is to maintain contact with universities and arrange events to put students in touch with people in the legal field. The organisation aims to inspire black students, enabling them to see and hear from people who look like them in positions to which they aspire. I often tell the story of being in university and wanting to have a photograph of a black male solicitor to put on my wall. I did not know one, so I ended up putting up a picture of a black man in a suit. Thankfully, the legal landscape in Birmingham is becoming more diverse and there are many more visible lawyers from an Afro-Caribbean background. I hope to be an inspirational photograph on someone’s wall one day.

There are so many things I am proud of in my legal career. I successfully applied to adjourn a case (after all of the evidence had come in with a plan of adoption) to enable a father to be assessed and ultimately care for his son. I successfully opposed a local authority application to remove a child from his father’s care (the father himself being a child), leading to the child remaining with his father permanently. I represented a mother in a private law case resulting in the father being prohibited from having any contact with the child until he had satisfactorily completed work with probation. And I worked with my colleagues on the three cases that we have submitted to the Court of Appeal since I have been with the firm.

Though the above results were extremely satisfying (as well as many more), my greatest achievement to date has been obtaining the Law Society Children Law Accreditation less than four years after qualifying as a solicitor. This means that I am one of the few solicitors who are able to represent children in the family court. To my knowledge, I am the only black male solicitor in the Midlands circuit – possibly the first, though I have been unable to confirm this. This fills me with immense pride.