Episode 4: Parenthood in the Legal Profession

Refreshingly Honest Chats With Lawyers

In this month’s episode of Refreshingly Honest Chats with Lawyers we’re delighted to delve into the topic of Parenthood in the Legal Profession.

Joining our host Duane Cormell is Judith Thomas-Whittingham, Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence at Stephensons.

Topics on the agenda include:

• How Judith juggles being a partner of a law firm and a parent?
• Whether the structures that typically exist within law firms make it easy for a parent to build a successful career in the legal profession.
• How firms can help new parents transition back into work from parental leave.
• The impact parenthood can have on mental health

About Duane Cormell
Duane is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Realm Recruit. Duane set up Realm in 2015 with the aim of developing careers and sustainably growing law firms through a refreshing, values-driven approach to legal recruitment. Since moving to recruitment after obtaining a degree in Law, Duane has amassed more than 10 years of legal recruitment experience and uses that knowledge to help law firms, lawyers, and aspiring lawyers alike.

About Judith Thomas-Whittingham
Judith was appointed as a Partner at Stephensons in 2009 and Head of Clinical Negligence in 2012. She is recognised by the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme and she is also the firm’s lead complaints partner.

Judith joined Stephensons as a graduate paralegal upon completion of the Legal Practice Course in June 1998. The following year, she secured a training contract and qualified as a solicitor in September 2001.

Judith has recently been recognised as a leading individual in the field of clinical negligence in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500.

She also regularly comments in the media on topical clinical negligence issues. She has appeared in This is Money, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, The Sun and on BBC Radio Manchester. Judith leads the 24-strong specialist department and in addition, raises funds for affiliated charities including The Limbless Society and Headway.
About Realm Recruit
At Realm Recruit, we believe in treating lawyers like people, not candidates. And we believe in treating law firms like valued partners, not just transactional customers.

Through our refreshing approach, we help to develop careers and sustainably grow law firms.

You can find us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@realmrecruit), Facebook and Instagram (realmrecruit)

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