End of an era — Paul Scholey steps back after 35 years at Morrish
One of our longest-serving members of the legal team — Paul Scholey — takes on a flexible consultancy role with the firm from today. He’s retiring from his normal duties but still working for us as a consultant, advising and proving important training to our union and association clients.
Paul studied law at Lancaster University and was admitted in 1989. He started his career doing criminal legal aid work before joining Morrish in August 1988, where he undertook a broad variety of cases until he established the firm’s first dedicated employment law team.
Paul was senior/managing partner for 10 years, before stepping into a consultant role in recent years. We caught up with him on his last “official” day in the office.
What interested you about employment law?
“I think because every employment case is a story about people. And just like people, each case is different. I genuinely believe we can make a real difference to our clients’ lives. Also, employment law changes frequently, so it is often technically challenging and interesting.”
You must have been involved in some interesting cases over the years?
“Absolutely! I was called by a barrister on a Sunday afternoon, to meet a well-known sports personality — in a pub! We spent the afternoon discussing his treatment at his club and in the end, I advised him to walk and sue. He did, and we secured a substantial compensation payment for him. I spent the first week fielding calls from the media, which was unusual. A great result for a very decent client.”
There must be a real variety in the types of cases — which makes the job satisfying.
“There is a massive spectrum in employment law. I once represented a teacher who was dismissed in iffy circumstances. Like most of us, she wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t deserve the sacking, to my mind. We sued the school who fought the claim tooth and nail, until the very morning of the final Tribunal hearing, when the school caved in and we secured a five-figure compensation payment. A very rewarding result!”
Striking and industrial action have been in the news constantly recently. This must have been a key are of work for you?
“I’ve advised many times on strikes and other forms of industrial action. The most stressful are the ones where a strike might mean that public transport (or similar) services are cancelled for a day or more. It’s always interesting to advise when the stakes are so high. There’s a good line about it: unions (and their lawyers) are never busier than when their members are on strike!”
You’ve been with Morrish for 35 years — what makes the firm special?
“Firstly, we act for people, not organisations, so every case is a human interaction. Also, most firms will say this but service really matters here — we genuinely try to make sure we delight every client. And most importantly, we deliver that exceptional service with a smile and a human face.”
