Posted on
31/5/2017 by Katherine Memery
As we explored in our blog last week, the leap from law to politics is not an uncommon career move. Hillary Clinton, Harriet Harman and Tony Blair are just a handful of prominent political figures with a legal background.
According to The Lawyer, there are 113 lawyers standing. Next Thursday, when Britain takes to the polls, it’s expected that a number of lawyers-turned-politicians will be selected by the electorate to represent them in Parliament. Here are just a handful of the lawyers hoping to win your vote...
Chuka Umunna
Party: Labour
Constituency: Streatham (2010-2017)
Education: English & French Law, University of Manchester, LPC at Nottingham Law School
Legal background: Employment solicitor at Herbert Smith (2002-6) and Rochman Landau (now Ashfords LLP) (2006-10)
Political career highlights include:
- MP for Streatham
- Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2011)
- Shadow Business Secretary (2011-2015)
Theresa Villiers
Party: Conservatives
Constituency: Chipping Barnet, Greater London
Education: Studied the LLB at the University of Bristol and the BCL at Jesus College, Oxford.
Legal background: qualified for the bar at the Inner Temple, lectured in law at King’s College London.
Political career highlights include:
- MP for Chipping Barnet (2005-present)
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Sept 2012- July 2016)
- Minister of State for Transport (May 2010-September 2012)
- Appointed as a Privy Counsellor in June 2010
- Member of European Parliament for London (1999-2005)
Yasmin Qureshi
Party: Labour
Constituency: Bolton South East
Education: Studied Law at London South Bank University, completed barrister training at the Council of Legal Education and obtained a Master of Laws at University College London
Legal background: worked as an in-house Barrister for the Crown Prosecution Service before becoming a specialist casework advocate.
Political career highlights include:
- MP for Bolton South East (2010-present)
- Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee
- Secretary of the All-party Parliamentary Group on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Harini Iyengar
Party: Women’s Equality Party
Constituency: Vauxhall
Education: Studied the LLB and BCL at the University of Oxford
Legal background: Has worked as a barrister since 1999 at 11KWB, specialising in employment, discrimination and equality. Has been described by the Times as “a leading campaigner for diversity in the legal profession.”
Political career highlights include:
- Ran for election to the Greater London Assembly in May 2016
David Davis
Party: Conservatives
Constituency: Clwyd West, North Wales
Education: University College London and Chester College of Law
Legal background: Worked as a solicitor in North Wales from 1976-1999
Political career highlights include:
- MP for Clwyd West (2005-2017)
- Minister of State for Exiting the European Union (July 2016-present)
- Secretary of State for Wales (Sept. 2012-July 2014)
- Member of the National Assembly for North Wales (2002-3)
Norman Lamb
Party: Liberal Democrats
Constituency: Norfolk North
Education: University of Leicester
Legal background: Litigation solicitor and partner at Steeles Law, specialising in employment law (1987-2001)
Political career highlights include:
- MP for Norfolk North 2001-2017.
- Parliamentary private secretary to the Deputy PM (Clegg) – May 2010-February 2012
- Minister of State for Care and Support (September 2012-May 2015)
- Liberal Democrat Health Spokesman (2015-present)