- March 8, 2022
- Posted by: MJC Law
- Category: Our People
We are pleased to announce that Tory Smith has qualified as a Solicitor.
Tory studied law at Staffordshire University and went on to study the Legal Practice Course at the same university where she graduated with a distinction in 2017.
During Tory’s time at university she volunteered for the South Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), initially volunteering as a Gateway Assessor but went on to train as generalist advisor before becoming an employment law specialist advisor.
When Derby City CAB lost their funding and were at risk of closure, they merged with South Derbyshire CAB to become one organisation. As part of the merge, Tory took over the role of managing the Gateway Team across the two offices, leading a team of 30 volunteers, delivering face to face and telephone advice and assistance to all clients across Derby City and South Derbyshire.
Whilst Tory enjoyed this role, she felt that she was being pulled into management and away from her ultimate aim as qualifying as a Solicitor. Therefore when the opportunity arose to join the advocacy team, she became an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA), a Relevant Persons Representative (RPR), a Care Act and non-statutory advocate.
As soon as Tory began working in advocacy, she knew she had found the area of law that she wanted to progress into. Tory developed a passion for working with vulnerable clients and in particular those subject to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
When Tory saw the vacancy arise at MJC Law she jumped at the opportunity and progressed very quickly to become the first Trainee Solicitor at the Firm, and in fact she was the very first employee at MJC Law. Tory was not put off by the prospect of working for what was at that time a small and fledging law firm, still finding its feet. She was a huge support to the directors, particularly in those early days, never shying away from doing tasks that might not ordinarily come within the job description of a paralegal.
Tory will be specialising in Court of Protection health and welfare matters and we are certain that she will have a flourishing career here at MJC Law.
