Thread I am proudly an equality and human rights lawyer. This means I will act for anyone in Suffolk and Norfolk who has been unlawfully discriminated against and who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford representation. I dont just represent people who share my political, 1.

religious, social, sexual or whatever views or protected characteristics...anyone. I believe that everyone, including those with differing views (or even views I totally disagree with) entitled to legal representation; and I dont discriminate. We have a human right to a fair 2.

trial and this means access to widest range of available, skilled specialist lawyers possible. Some lawyers dont do legal aid and I respect that. I work somewhere that does; or provides services pro bono if legal aid not available (subject to us having funding). For lobbying 3.

groups to seek to reduce the pool of available lawyers by seeking the removal from office, job or appointment of those who act for people/cases they disapprove of is a dangerous precedent. Some of my clients come from very marginal, and unpopular communities, are offenders or 4.

have beliefs many dislike. To ensure everyone can get representation we come up with rules (like the Bar cab rank rule which doesn't apply to solicitors) or organisational or personal principles which accord with that human right.We do refuse to help if outside 5.

our specialism, our geographical area, or other factor (like say only acting for tenants or ET claimants), and will judge the strength of a claim. But we avoid making judgment about the "goodness" or "badness" of the client and prefer the issue to be tested well in court. We 6.

do this partly because it is a human right but also such judgement could be made about anyone of us in the future. Whilst we wouldn't be human if we didn't feel real passion if a clients case advanced the understanding of the law in a way we favoured. But in my view 7.

being a good lawyer should be more about your whole caseload & ensuring access to justice for all in your specialism, than only limiting it to those privileged ones you like. Even your clients' opponents in cases should be well represented to ensure decisions are well made End