solicitor
A solicitor is a lawyer who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and enabled to p ...
specialising in
employment law
Labour laws (also spelled as labor laws), labour code or employment laws are those that mediate the relationship between workers, employing entities, trade unions, and the government. Collective labour law relates to the tripartite relationship be ...
and was appointed a
Queen's Counsel
A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...
in 2015. She founded the legal partnership Palmer Wade, the forum Women's Equality Network and the charity Your Employment Settlement Service (YESS) which arbitrates and negotiates employment disputes.
Legal career
She started her career as the secretary for
Henry Hodge
Sir Henry Egar Garfield Hodge (12 January 1944 – 18 June 2009) professionally styled The Hon Mr Justice Hodge, was an English solicitor and Justice of the High Court of England and Wales.
Early life
Born in Peterborough, Hodge was educate ...
at the
Child Poverty Action Group
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is a UK charity that works to alleviate poverty and social exclusion.
History
The Group first met on 5 March 1965, at a meeting organised by Harriett C. Wilson. It followed the publication of Brian Abel-Smith ...
. She subsequently worked at
Gingerbread
Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with ginger root, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a moist loaf cake to forms nearly ...
advising single parents and then took a law degree at the
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...
where she focused upon
social justice
Social justice is justice in relation to the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society where individuals' rights are recognized and protected. In Western and Asian cultures, the concept of social justice has of ...
, studying the legal aspects of
sex discrimination
Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but primarily affects women and girls. It has been linked to gender roles and stereotypes, and may include the belief that one sex or gender is int ...
. She then worked for a variety of legal employers, including Bindmans LLP, before setting up her own partnership, Palmer Wade, with Joanna Wade in 2002.
In 2009, she joined the firm
Leigh Day
Martyn Day is a British solicitor specializing in international, environmental and product liability claims who founded – and is the Senior Partner of – the law firm Leigh Day, established in 1987. He was a director of Greenpeace Environment ...
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
for
unfair dismissal In labour law, unfair dismissal is an act of employment termination made without good reason or contrary to the country's specific legislation.
Situation per country
Australia
Australia has long-standing protection for employees in relation to ...
on the grounds that this was
ageism
Ageism, also called agism in American English, is a type of discrimination based on one's age, generally used to refer to age-based discrimination against Old age, elderly people. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe this ...
. The case was won but O'Reilly left the BBC a year later and founded the Women's Equality Network with Palmer – a forum for women facing similar discrimination.
In 2014, Palmer started the charity Your Employment Settlement Service (YESS) which aims to provide legal advice to employers and employees so that they can resolve disputes economically without the expense of litigation.
In 2023, she joined an employment mediation team based in Doughty Street Chambers.
* ''Sex and Race Discrimination in Employment'' (1987)
* ''Discrimination at Work: The Law on Sex, Race and Disability Discrimination'' (1997)
* ''Discrimination Law Handbook'' (2007)