Social mobility- my personal perspective

Written by Phil Hunt, mfg Solicitors LLP

“The futures of far too many young people are determined by background, not potential.”

I do not even remember where I first heard that quote, yet it has stuck with me.  I am from what might be politely termed a low socio-economic background.

I lived in a small, terraced house with a large family: my parents, plus me and my four siblings.  For much of my childhood, from around the ages of six to sixteen, neither of my parents had jobs.  We essentially lived off benefits.  The reasons are more than I should perhaps go into, involving mental health concerns and other issues, but the salient fact is that we did not have much.

I do not want to appear ungrateful though.  We may not have had much in terms of material wealth but it was a loving and supportive environment.

I did not think much about what I ultimately wanted to be.  I simply took each educational step one at a time.  I chose my A-Levels based on a combination of what my older siblings had either liked or disliked when they did their A-Levels, and on what I thought I would enjoy the most.

And it turned out law was the subject I enjoyed the most, and so I naturally went on to study the subject at university.  I was fortunate enough to attend university shortly before the tuition fees tripled (although that still doesn’t mean I’ve paid it all off yet…).  My siblings and I were the first generation of my family to attend university.

Upon graduating, I started the Legal Practice Course, the key step in moving forward to becoming a trainee solicitor.  It was around this time that I became aware of just how many others seemed to have assistance from parents and other family members.  I tried not to resent those who seemed to approach the course with a more relaxed demeanour, because after all if it did not work out for them, the consequences were minor.  For those of us who had no financial assistance, the thought of paying circa £9,000 with no guarantee that it would work out in the end was rather disconcerting.  And this time it wasn’t a student loan, but a real, “adult” one.  Repayments would have to commence shortly after the course had finished, with no leeway.

Whilst on the course, I earned enough money to live by working at Asda Living.  Fantastic experience in learning how to deal with people – everyone should work in retail at one point in their lives!

Shortly after completing the LPC, I was able to secure a job as a paralegal in Birmingham City Centre firm Emms Gilmore Liberson.  I initially felt completely out of place in a professional environment.  I felt in over my head and surrounded by people who (in my mind) were from a different world to the one in which I had grown up.  I thought I would have no frame of reference in common with anyone.  I felt ridiculous in suits, which were off the rack in Tesco, and which I could barely afford.

However, I did soon realise that there were plenty of people in the same boat as me, and that where I had come from did not need to be a barrier.  In fact, it has been a consistent source of strength to help drive myself forward, feeling proud of where I had come from and what I had achieved.  The financial struggle during my time as a paralegal and trainee made it all the more satisfying to finally qualify, and begin to have some disposable income for the first time in my life.

I went on to qualify into the commercial property department at Emms Gilmore Liberson before the firm was acquired by Knights plc.  After facing the trials of lockdown and the challenges of working at a much larger firm, I was promoted to Associate in October 2021, before deciding to move to regional firm mfg Solicitors LLP in the summer of 2022.

I have found mfg to be a firm which fully supports social mobility.  A recent promotion to Senior Associate in mfg’s commercial property division was a welcome one, and one which made me reflect on the journey I have undertaken to get here.

My career over the past nine years has been an ongoing learning curve, one which was made more difficult through a lack of contacts or financial assistance.  But in many ways it makes me all the prouder, and I will never forget all of the help I have received from colleagues, friends and family.  I very much hope it is a trajectory which will continue!

10 years ago I would never have thought any of this possible for someone of my social status.  It just goes to show that you should ensure your future is determined by your potential, not your background.