Q2 2025 Q&A
When did you decide to start to use LinkedIn to share posts and why?
When I opened my own law firm in November 2024.
Until then, I’d only had generic profiles (there are a couple still out there, which are beyond boring!), and wasn’t encouraged to use it at all by firms I worked for.
When I was setting up my own firm, I thought hard about the message I wanted to get out about what I’d be doing, and the message was loud, audacious and different.
To me, LinkedIn was a platform that allowed me to get that message across using personality.
I knew other professionals hung out there, and they seemed like people who might understand the journey I was about to take and might be able to help support me through it, even just by being there and doing the same thing at the same time.
Did you have any fears about being authentic and sharing your opinions in your posts at first?
I was so worried that I would be laughed at, or that nobody would read anything I put out.
It wasn’t just me I was representing but my law firm, and I didn’t want to doom my firm to suffer if something I said hit a bum note.
Why do you think your posts encourage your followers to comment and engage?
Honestly, I don’t know.
There are so many smart, funny and really interesting people on LinkedIn that I feel a bit like an outlier.
I am having fun and just posting about daily life and nostalgic memories from my early career.
I wonder sometimes if there are those who hope to pick up life hacks from my struggles of raising five children alongside law firm ownership.
Spoiler alert: there are none.
Children are hard work, and so are leadership and management. Perhaps everyone really does want an ineffectual robot vacuum cleaner or Pete the Pasty.
Has your firm or chambers been supportive of what you’re doing and – assuming it has – what lessons could others learn from your approach?
I have never been encouraged to use LinkedIn in previous roles, which is probably why I am enjoying the freedom now.
I have a lot more licence than others, because I don’t have any policies to adhere to that I haven’t drafted myself.
I’m more able to express views and stand behind causes than those employed by firms with strong corporate branding rules to follow.
However, I think there is scope for all firms to loosen the reins and allow more room for individual personalities to be showcased right across their firm.
Their people are the ones who ‘win’ the work after all.
Do clients ever say anything about your posts to you?
Often.
There are people who love following along and will refer to a post I’ve made recently when we speak.
A few have instructed me on the back of a post that really resonated with them and us striking up a conversation.
I’ve had so many people at networking events come to ‘meet’ me in real life and tell me they love what I’m doing on LinkedIn and asking me to carry on because they love seeing people doing something different.
What would you say to others that are thinking of adding their voice on this platform?
It can feel overwhelming, but the best place to start is often commenting on others’ posts.
People are so friendly and love to hear from new voices.
You have a valid opinion and there are thousands of people who would love to hear it.
Interacting with others can be really rewarding, as it often leads to deeper conversations and connections with people whose posts resonate with you.
Follow anyone who seems like they have some interesting views.
Keep it diverse – there are so many different industries and styles, and every one has something to learn from.
What’s the most surprising result that you’ve produced due to your posting on LinkedIn? Or, have you had any breakthrough results?
I’ve been surprised that my posts do resonate with people.
I’ve got a small number of followers compared to others using the platform, so I didn’t know how things would go.
It’s always lovely to hear everybody’s views and experiences, and I’ve been really enjoying meeting with people I’ve met on LinkedIn virtually or face to face offline.
Have you found real-life networking easier as a result of your profile on LinkedIn?
It’s certainly opened up conversations.
I’ve found myself referring to the posts that others have made and little updates I’ve seen from them, so it’s been nice to develop relationships.
And meeting people offline when we’ve ‘met’ virtually on LinkedIn has been great because it feels like we’re already well-known by that point.
Which creators would other legal sector professionals be wise to follow?
Harry McCarthy is a really funny person to follow (and a fellow South West lawyer).
I love Craig Kelly, Jon Gregson and Steven Mather for their funny posts.
But I also love following really successful leaders like Dame Dana Denis-Smith.
I’m also going to put out next-gen lawyer Xiao Pan and compliance guru Eloise Butterworth.
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