Name: Ameenat Lapite
Female
Solicitor
Higher Court Advocate

My name is Ameenat Lapite.  I am a Solicitor with Essex County Council and have been employed here since June 1998. 

I obtained a first Degree in Philosophy at the University of Lagos in 1982 followed by the National Youth Service between 1982 and 1983.  I returned to study law at the University of Lagos in 1983 graduating in1986. I attended the Nigeria Law School from 1986 to 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in October 1987.

I began my legal practice career with a big corporate law firm Odujinrin & Adefulu in Lagos where I stayed until March 1989 when I decided to relocate to England in March 1989.  I made a personal decision to stay in legal practice and all my appointments were in that l area.  I did a number of temporary jobs for private solicitors in Manchester before getting a job with Manchester City Council in August 1990 as a Legal assistant in the Conveyancing Team.  I remained in this post until February 1995 when I moved to the Child Care Team.  The reason for this move was because Manchester City Council had disposed of most of its housing stock particularly under the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme.  This was a considered move because at that time I was bored with Conveyancing as a discipline and did not feel sufficiently stimulated by the restriction peculiar to council house sales.

In 1995 I decided to re-qualify in England as a solicitor and embarked on a Post Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE) course at the University of Huddersfield.  At that time my children were at ages where I felt I could put them in a routine to allow me to study for my course and exams. Huddersfield is about 30 miles from Manchester. I was able to structure my lectures around a full time work schedule whilst ensuring that the children were catered for.

I was granted exemptions in three areas which meant I could complete the CPE course in one year. This credit was due to my having been called to the Nigerian Bar.

Shortly after I enrolled for this course, the Law Society included Nigeria in the Qualified Lawyer Transfer Test (QLTT) scheme.  I decided that as I had not studied for about 8 years it was best for me to complete the CPE though I did not need to do so as a route to re-qualification.  I immediately enrolled with the College of Law, Store Street, London for the QLTT on successful completion of the CPE course.  I passed the QLTT in 1998 and because I had held various posts under the required heads and  I had practised in Nigeria, I was given a complete exemption by the Law Society from completing a training contract.

I was admitted in March 1998 and applied for my first job in April 1998 which I got with Essex County Council. This meant relocation from Manchester to Essex.

I started as a newly qualified solicitor with Essex County Council and have risen through the career progression scheme and I am now a Principal solicitor specialising in Child Care and an Acting Team Manager responsible for solicitors specialising in Child Care, Mental Health and Adult Social Care

In 2001 I became a member of the Law Society Children Panel and in November 2004 obtained the Higher Rights Advocacy accreditation making me what is known as a Solicitor Advocate.

I am pleased with what I have achieved so far, though it has been hard finding a balance between my family life and work. It is nevertheless fulfilling and challenging. I come from a family of high achievers and have always been driven by a will to succeed even when faced with sometimes conflicting demands. Hard work and dedication remain the key ingredients of success.

I would advise anyone considering a career in law to remain focused, driven, work hard and get to know people in your area who will mentor you.  I am in childcare, which means dealing with very difficult cases and two days are never the same.

I am willing to support newly qualified and aspiring solicitors.