🔥 Three Truths Every New Employment Litigator Needs to Hear

💥 In employment law, the stakes are deeply personal - reputations, livelihoods, and dignity hang in the balance. And as someone who’s been in this fight for over two decades, I can tell you: great employment litigators aren’t born in law school. They’re shaped in hearing rooms, strategy sessions, and in the quiet moments after a tough loss or a hard-fought win

🫷 This past month, I lost a disciplinary case - but won a bullying claim. I lost an incapacity claim but won a restructure challenge. That emotional whiplash reminded me, yet again, of the three truths I always hold onto working in this space:

1. Your job isn’t to be perfect - it’s to be present

Employment law isn’t about delivering a flawless performance. It’s about showing up for your client, especially when they feel unheard or under attack. Judges, tribunals, and even HR decision-makers can sense when you genuinely believe in your client’s story. That presence - the willingness to stand beside them when things get tough - often matters more than perfectly reciting the law

2. Preparation beats performance

The disciplinary case I lost didn’t come down to what I said at the hearing. The factors that mattered were already predetermined and I could not change minds. On the flip side, the bullying case I won was built on hours of digging through documents, careful preparation and understanding the emotional landscape of the workplace. The cases we win are usually won in the prep - not in the room

3. Your client’s story is usually more powerful than your legal argument

In employment litigation, the human element is everything. Whether you represent an employer having to restructure and drop jobs, or an employee who’s suffered under a toxic boss, telling a clear, compelling story is key. People don’t decide based on statute alone - they decide based on who they believe, who they relate to, and who they understand

👩‍⚖️ I’ve learned these truths through wins that felt incredible and losses that still sting. But every experience sharpens the edge

👋 To every new employment litigator worried about getting it wrong: your client isn’t looking for a perfect lawyer. They need someone who cares enough to dig deep, prepare hard, and stand up when it counts. They need someone who won’t walk away when the pressure builds

That’s the kind of lawyer I try to be. And isn't that’s the kind of lawyer our clients deserve?