A law graduate from the University of Nottingham who qualified in 1999, Nicola has always been dedicated to Legal Aid work and committed to representing people detained under the Mental Health Act. She was employed as a partner at a large Bristol firm before relocating to Reading, where she ran a successful and highly regarded mental health department for many years.

Nicola has been a member of the Mental Health Accreditation Scheme since November 2000. She obtained Higher Rights of Audience in the Criminal Courts in 2004, and her previous experience in criminal law is useful in restricted case work.  Nicola has extensive experience representing clients at Tribunals and Hospital Managers’ meetings. She also attends care programme approach and discharge planning meetings and has experience of advising nearest relatives. Nicola regularly supports clients detained in local hospitals, medium secure units and high security hospitals.

Nicola worked as a Peer Reviewer for the Legal Aid Agency between 2006 – 2024, firstly in criminal law and then from 2017 in mental health law. This involved assessing the work of other firms on behalf of the Legal Aid Agency to ensure standards of competency were maintained. 

Nicola undertakes inquest work and also now combines her legal aid practice with other independent roles in regulatory healthcare and in the First Tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber).  She combines a forensic attention to detail with a compassionate person-centred approach and particularly enjoys helping her more complex clients obtain discharge with suitable packages of care.