I was born and brought up in an area where I witnessed social deprivation, crime and injustice. I wanted a career where I could potentially make a difference. I had a strong work ethos, which I absorbed from my parents, and attended a state grammar school. I was the unusual pupil whose parents were called into school because I was working too hard. From an early age I often visited my mother’s office in Fleet Street, where she worked initially as a legal secretary and then as a legal executive. Aged 14, I accompanied Charlie Kray to the Old Bailey. I only realised the significance of that journey when discussing the day with my father, who was somewhat horrified to learn about it!

I first became a trainee legal executive for a commercial practice in Fleet Street.

I had never considered becoming a solicitor or barrister, believing that was beyond my ability.

An opportunity arose when I discovered I was being made redundant as the department was closing. I met with a friend who was attending law school the following Monday, having applied three years in advance. Her boss suggested I should also attend law school with my friend. He made the call and was informed a cancellation had just been received – I started the following Monday. When I went through the doors of the school and had my first lecture I knew I was where I should be.

My application to be the first woman solicitor-advocate silk was made at the suggestion of a retired Supreme Court judge. I had appeared before him in a complex family matter and he called my office to suggest I should apply. The thought would never have occurred to me. The day I received the letter informing me of my appointment was surreal.

I opened the letter without my reading glasses and struggled to read what it said, but thought I saw the word ‘congratulations’. On passing the letter to my husband he became very excited and animated, much to the amusement of my nine-year-old daughter. On hearing the word ‘queen’ she ran next door to her best friend and announced to his mother that ‘mummy has just been made a queen’. I don’t think the bar knew what to make of it. I felt that in some parts of the profession there was resentment. However, I appreciate being the ‘first’ can generate uncertainty.

I was very proud to become president of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association. The profession was going through enormous changes at the time, as was legal aid. We were moving towards the Carter Review, which dramatically changed the face of criminal legal aid. As president, my priority was to maintain access to justice and fair remuneration for the hard-working criminal solicitors who have been, and remain, the backbone of our criminal justice system. Many criminal solicitors were facing real financial challenges in maintaining the standard of service required with the remuneration they received from legal aid. Sadly, that remains the case today, with many criminal lawyers leaving this field of law.

One high-profile case that stands out is representing the social worker in the Victoria Climbie case post-public inquiry. She had been prevented from working as social worker because of the findings from that inquiry. My task was to appeal that decision. We succeeded but what I mainly remember was how a young, inexperienced social worker had been scapegoated. She received no support from her employer or colleagues. The effect Victoria’s death had on her was considerable.

She had sought supervisory advice throughout her conduct of this case but none had been forthcoming. Instead, she was expected to handle a heavy caseload of serious child protection cases, single-handed. I often think about her and hope that she was able to move on.

Another high-profile case I handled was early on in my career. A man was convicted of serious offences and I questioned the strength of the evidence against him. Clearly, two members of the jury also questioned this as they returned to watch him be sentenced after his trial to 12 years’ imprisonment.

They were both clearly upset. The case was eventually returned to me by the home secretary on the grounds of fresh evidence and I was able to reopen it. He was acquitted within 12 minutes of the jury retiring. I will never forget the moment the verdict was pronounced. I had walked into court with a heavy load on my shoulders and walked out, on air.

June Venters KC is founder of Venters Solicitors

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