Breaking Barriers in Law
Dr. Trevor D. Sterling (Hon.causa) is Senior Partner at Moore Barlow and head of the Major Trauma Service, having made history by becoming the first black senior partner of a top 100 UK law firm. He has run some of England’s highest profile cases, from co-leading the investigation into Jimmy Savile’s child abuse claims to conducting the landmark Corr v IBC Vehicles Ltd case on employers’ liability in employee suicide, the first since 1957. Dr. Sterling has also received two honorary doctorates from the University of Law and the University of Roehampton.
Humble Beginnings and Early Challenges
This wasn't always his intended path. Born to Jamaican parents who came to England in the late 1950s, Dr. Sterling faced racism during his schooling, which contributed to his underachievement - he left school with four GCSEs. Nevertheless, fortune smiled down on him when a career advisor informed him of an opportunity to become an outdoor clerk delivering legal papers for a law firm. This led to Dr. Sterling joining said law firm and sitting amongst lawyers, gaining a passion for law. Admittedly, before this, he had no clue what lawyers did and had no ambition to become one. His love for law resulted in him working hard to qualify as a CILEX lawyer and later becoming a solicitor. “I became a solicitor by the time I was 25. Having started at 16, 17. And then went on to become a partner at the age of 28.” Dr. Sterling was motivated by wanting to be the best lawyer he could be and utilise his sense of ability to make a difference.
Landmark Cases and Legal Impact
And make a difference he has. When asked, Dr. Sterling chose two cases he’d worked on that he felt were most impactful. One is Corr v IBC, where, after suffering severe depression stemming from a serious workplace injury, the claimant committed suicide. The success of the case, in which the employer was found liable for the employee’s suicide, “changed the law around the understanding of mental health” and was “incredibly important from a law point of view”. Dr Sterling’s second case is a more current one, regarding the shocking and devastating death of two 8-year-old girls killed when a car crashed into their school in Wimbledon. The slowness of the process in both the criminal and civil justice systems, the tragedy occurring in a school, which is supposed to be “one of the safest places on the planet”, and lawyers being able to make a difference for families, and that being fulfilling for lawyers and families alike, are all aspects Dr. Sterling comments on.
A Career Shaped by Major Trauma Law
Evidently, Dr. Sterling has achieved much in his legal career. He explains how he was drawn to his niche, which involves mainly dealing with major trauma cases, like the two mentioned above. “Law picked me rather than me picking it,” he remarks.
Changing Landscape of Personal Injury Law
Dr. Sterling notes how it has changed significantly when asked for his insights on personal injury. Law firms being able to advertise on media such as television resulted in an image of “ambulance chasers”, an American term, creating an impression of the profession that devalued what they did, becoming an industry focused on making money. The rise of claims management companies, combined with the aforementioned, “really tarnished … the image of first injury law”. Getting rid of advertising has meant recognising how valuable their work is. A testament to his passion for law and his work, Dr. Sterling states how to ensure his team delivers on his values, he “studied everything there was to know about the legal landscape going back to the late 1800s”. Helping individuals rebuild their lives is why they proudly refer to themselves as ‘Major Trauma Lawyers’; their work goes well beyond legal advice, supporting people when they require it most and delivering real impact.
Leadership at Moore Barlow
His role as Senior Partner is also “partly pastoral”. Dr. Sterling likens himself to glue, describing himself as the individual who ensures that everything is done right with regard to culture, values and behaviours. This includes living by these values, “being human first in particular and leading the way as much as possible”. There is an ambassadorial element to his role, too, going out and giving talks, and “encouraging and inspiring others coming through”, which Dr. Sterling feels is a crucial part of his work.
Responsible Use of Technology and AI
This human touch, ensuring everything is done correctly, also factors into how Moore Barlow approaches AI. Using it in a safe environment, tentatively, recognising that the tool still requires human intervention, and not relying on it blindly are all points Dr. Sterling makes when discussing the firm’s use of the technology. They intend to “use it as effectively as [they] can in [their] business”. Dr. Sterling also comments on biases AI can possess, linking it to diversity in leadership and the picking out of biases, an understanding he brings to the table.
Bridging Generations in the Legal Profession
Understanding new technologies, such as AI, ties into the coming together of the older generation of lawyers and the upcoming one. Dr. Sterling discusses the most significant opportunities and challenges facing the next generation of lawyers coming in. Lawyers who have come through the more recent academic system, “digital natives” in particular, are up to date on everyday digital technology, know how to get the best out of it, he states, unlike older lawyers who have to learn how to use such tools. The two generations coming together, older learning from the younger, regarding said tools, and allowing the newer generation to utilise skills they already possess, instead of making them stick to what the older generation knows, is key.
At Moore Barlow, along with various opportunities in which new trainees learn and develop technological knowledge and complex skills, Dr. Sterling emphasises soft skills. According to Dr. Sterling, being used to technology has resulted in a disappearance in these skills for the younger generation, which is why, before trainees even join the firm, he gives talks at the University of Roehampton and and the University of Law, brings aspiring lawyers to the workplace, and even does one on ones, “[feeding softer skills] into our approach before they even join us”.
Passion, Purpose and Potential
He looks for passion and purpose in trainees; if they are passionate and purposeful, other aspects of knowledge can be taught. Grades are not the only important thing. For example, involvement in civic responsibilities and doing voluntary work demonstrates passion and purpose for Dr. Sterling. His job then is to give direction. He explains that passion, purpose, direction and self-belief allow one to achieve and fulfil one's potential, and produce the best lawyers. Those who bring with them a diverse set of skills, and law firms recognising where people have had struggles, are important; “ … the reality is that it's those that have suffered injustice that are more likely to be effective at fighting justice”.
Building a Personal Brand
Having your own brand, he says, is vital in this age of social media. Everyone can amplify their voice now, and through social media, others can gain a sense of your purpose and values, he continues. However, creating the right personal brand is essential; Dr. Sterling notes that the wrong one will hurt your law firm. Creating a personal brand enables you to build networks, and keeping them with you is critical, because as people you know progress, your networks grow in power and influence, which you can utilise to make a big difference. Aspiring lawyers must remember that social media is a means of communication, so they must not act in an unbecoming manner online or in a way they wouldn’t in person.
For Dr. Sterling, he approaches social media by talking about three things he’s passionate about and that mean something to him: law, community, and family. He says you should set guidelines and boundaries, have a purpose behind starting your brand, and align what you do with your purpose.
“Be the Ladder”: Driving Social Mobility
Dr. Sterling uses the term “being the ladder” instead of mentoring, and he’s set up both the Be The Ladder Foundation and the Be The Ladder Awards. According to Dr. Sterling, this is because many employers don’t address the cause, but the symptoms. Being the ladder, he says, is key. For him, it means going into schools and giving students ambition, aspiration and hope that they too can do what he’s done. “My mantra is don't just aspire to climb the ladder, be the ladder”. The Be the Ladder Foundation assists with private tuition and other support for school children, whilst the Be The Ladder Awards celebrate and recognise those who have been the ladder. For Dr. Sterling, “Being the ladder more generally, for me, is critical if we're going to be able to move the dial on social mobility finally”.