Brian Foote recently joined our Military Injury team as a paralegal. This is Brian’s second career, after serving 25 years in the Parachute Regiment.
We caught up with him to find out more about his career change and why he chose law.
“I’m delighted to have recently started my role in the Military Team here at Irwin Mitchell.
“This is my second career after having served 25 years in the Parachute Regiment. As a paratrooper, I served on operations in Afghanistan, Macedonia, and Northern Ireland – as well as training in Africa, Turkey, Cyprus, and the USA. I was also fortunate enough to join skydiving expeditions with the Red Devils Freefall Team.
“Being a paratrooper was a very exciting and rewarding career. But after 25 years, I wanted a role that allows me to enjoy family life. I still love skydiving, and I tend to jump at weekends in the Lake District, or at the Joint Services Parachute Centre, in Wiltshire.”
Brian continued:
“I decided to pursue a career in law after serving in several countries that didn’t benefit from democratic elections and structured legal systems that we often take for granted. Having first-hand experience in less fortunate countries, I fully appreciate how privileged we are to have a world leading legal system in the UK – I genuinely feel honoured to be a part of it.
“I was medically discharged from service after a parachuting accident, and I’m aware of the effects and difficulties service personnel can face after being injured during service – it can be life-changing. Those who’ve been affected by an injury, can often find themselves receiving unfair compensation through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) in reflection of their injuries or illnesses. So being part of the Military Team allows me to help people from similar backgrounds to my own. Through first hand personal experiences, I can empathise with the challenges our clients face, whether they’re still serving, facing discharge, have been discharged from, or have left the Armed Forces.”
Irwin Mitchell are proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant, and we’re incredibly delighted to have received the Employment Recognitions Scheme (ERS) Gold Award in 2021 – it demonstrates our commitment to representing service personnel, veterans and their families at a time they need us most.
On joining the firm, Brian said:
“I received a very warm welcome from colleagues across the firm. I was given a comprehensive training package when I started, and my team are always on hand support me when I need it. Overall, it’s a great environment to work in, and I look forward to progressing onto a training contract at the soonest opportunity.”
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