Congratulations to Our Newly Qualified Employment Law Solicitor, Ali Sultan

2024 is off to a great start, here at Winston Solicitors. Especially in terms of our Employment team, who now find themselves with a brand new, fully-fledged Employment Law Solicitor. Ali Sultan first joined us in 2021 as a Conveyancing Administrator. In 2022, he began to train as an Employment Law Solicitor and in just 18 months qualified to his current position. We couldn’t be prouder of him.

Since he is newly qualified, we felt this was the perfect opportunity to ask his advice for anyone wanting to train as an Employment Law Solicitor.  

Congratulations on qualifying. Could you talk us through your background and what led you to pursue a career as an Employment Law Solicitor?

I initially wanted to be a property lawyer. However, since joining the Employment Team, I’ve been able to see first hand how much of a positive effect we can have on a client’s life. It gives me a huge amount of job satisfaction to see just how much we help people. Particularly when they are in a vulnerable position. Jobs determine their livelihoods (i.e. ability to pay mortgage, for food etc.). So it affects entire lives when people have issues.

The world of employment law is incredibly busy. That really appeals to me - I enjoy the fast-paced nature of the work. It can be quite exciting, particularly when you have urgent deals to push through before the deadlines.

What attracted you to a career in law and which other areas do you have experience in?

It was the diverse nature of the work that attracted me to the role of Employment Law solicitor.  

Law has an area for everyone, whatever they enjoy, even if your interests are niche. It’s a clear path, once you start to specialise. For example, if you’re interested in sports, you can become a sports-focused lawyer, such as a Sports Employment Solicitor. If you’re interested in design, you could go into IP law... there’s a specialism for everyone.

For me I enjoy the everyday intricacies of something we all rely on everyday… our jobs and the laws behind them.

But it didn’t start there. I was originally taken on as a Conveyancing Administrator, like I said earlier. I did that for a year and half before starting to train as a solicitor. As a Trainee Solicitor, I also had seats in the Conveyancing, and Insolvency and Litigation departments. Of course, I also rotated through Employment, which was my primary focus, and which led to me qualifying as an Employment Law Solicitor.

How has Winston Solicitors contributed to your professional development in employment law?

Winston Solicitors has numerous departments. I found them to be very eager to get you to where you want to go. All of the departments at Winston Solicitors give the trainees hands on experience from day one. So you’re never left wondering what you need to do; you're straight in the middle of it right from the off. I felt supported and listened to every step of the way.  

That being said, I needed to put in a lot my own work too. Winston Solicitors were very accommodating when I needed to take time to study and there was always someone around who was willing to answer my questions, if I needed help.

During your training with us, what were some of the most valuable lessons you learned about practicing employment law?

A. Because the training here is so hands on, I was involved with clients from the get-go. It was a great lesson in providing clients with the best service possible. We pride ourselves on our customer-centric ethos. It’s one of the reasons our reviews are so good – people genuinely feel valued and validated by our solicitors. So having a good grasp of customer service is vital. I really feel that’s an important learning curve whatever area of law you’re in and whatever firm you’re working for.

There’s also an element of commercial acumen that’s needed and it’s embedded into the training. After all, this is a business and in order for us to do the best we can for our clients, we also need the firm to be thriving. It involves learning about how to operate effectively in the commercial world. A skill that is transferable to all walks of life.

How did your interactions with clients and cases at Winston Solicitors shape your understanding of the practical applications of employment law principles in real-world scenarios?

Learning how to interact with clients and develop good relationships with them is imperative. Law clients often find themselves in quite stressful situations. Particularly when it comes to employment law.  

For employees, their livelihood seems uncertain – they've had a negative experience in their workplace, and they need reassurance that they’re on the right track. Whereas employers are facing situations where they just want to make sure their business isn’t about to go under because of one bad recruitment choice.  

A good Employment Law Solicitor knows how to get the best out of people and build rapport. Gaining our clients’ trust helps us to fully understand their problem and build a case. For me, I need that deeper insight to then go find the legal principles or established case law to solve their issues in the best way I can. Training with Winston Solicitors really gave me the tools to ask the right questions and really listen to the details when collating answers.  

What specific mentorship or guidance did you receive from senior solicitors at our firm that you found particularly beneficial in your development as an employment law solicitor?

Our Head of Employment, Liz Spooner, was a great mentor for me. She’s exceptionally thorough in the way that she works, which in turn shaped the way I now work. She explains things very clearly, which makes the learning process much easier. It also means that clients are fully up to date about their cases and feel that they have all the advice and support they need to make informed decisions. Whether that be setting out a case very quickly or providing detailed advice to employer clients.

Working with Liz has meant that I learned the most effective way to schedule and deal with my own caseload. As well as giving me the ability to convey technical legal jargon to clients clearly and succinctly.

What do you find most rewarding about being an employment law solicitor?

That’s an easy one. I love the satisfaction of doing a good job for someone. Nothing pleases me more than calling a client to tell them that I’ve been instrumental in getting their deal over the line. It's what we strive for every day in all our cases. Just the buzz of knowing that someone will walk away that day feeling like a weight has been lifted and that we played a part in that. It’s just a great feeling.

All the solicitors at Winston Solicitors have a great deal of empathy for their clients’ situations. There’s a genuine wish to do the absolute best for someone and put their mind at ease. It’s one of the reasons working here is so gratifying.

Looking back at your time as a trainee solicitor with our firm, can you share a memorable case or client interaction that significantly influenced your approach to employment law practice?

I have to be a bit careful here, because we take client confidentiality very seriously. In one instance, I was dealing with vulnerable client who had come to us with a discrimination claim. They were obviously very worried about the situation they were in. We needed to understand the bigger picture, which meant developing a good working relationship with them. Once we were armed with all the facts, we got to work. Ultimately, the outcome was very positive, and our client got their desired result. It made a huge difference to their life, and it was so satisfying, as an Employment Law Solicitor, to see the work I’d put in coming to fruition.

What advice would you give to aspiring solicitors who are considering specialising in employment law, based on your own journey and experiences at our firm?

Have a ‘can do’ attitude. This applies to everyone everywhere, but training at Winston Solicitors is a fantastic opportunity for growth. There are so many lawyers here with a wealth of experience who are more than willing to share their knowledge. It's a wonderful resource. As long as you are willing to engage with people, there is something to be learned from everyone here. So always put in the work and make the best of the resources you have to hand. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help or advice from those who have been in your shoes.

In what ways do you envision continuing your professional development and staying updated on the latest changes in UK employment law, now that you have qualified as an Employment Law Solicitor?

Law is a constantly evolving field, so it will mean continuous research to stay up to date. Change is the only certainty in our line of work. Keeping an eye out on our ever-changing legislation is just part of the job as an Employment Law Solicitor. Employment law is probably the most dynamic area, as it's always being updated and reassessed. New cases with individual needs crop up all the time. The way employers use (and employees interact with) technology poses new challenges.

It’s also important that I continue to engage with others to continue building connections and relationships within the industry. 

Looking for an Employment Law Solicitor in Leeds?

If you have questions around employment law, from either an Employee or Employer perspective, please contact our team of experts on 0113 320 5000.