Page 12 - messenger

12 Lawyer of the Month

Lawyer of the Month

This month Richard Scorer, the Manchester-based head of the abuse
team and national manager of serious injury at Slater and Gordon,
talks to the Messenger…

What was the case/deal all about? What has been the highlight of your career to date?

I act on behalf of a number of young women who were sex- Quite a few in terms of abuse work, like seeing the Catholic
ually exploited as children by organised gangs in Rochdale. church finally face up to the reality of clerical sex abuse
Over the past few years, it has become apparent that child partly under the pressure of cases I had brought, winning a
sexual exploitation has been happening on a massive scale key limitation case in the Court of Appeal, and handling
in many parts of the UK, with the cases in Rochdale and many high profile abuse cases. But also winning some im-
Rotherham, South Yorkshire, quite rightly causing huge portant non-abuse cases – in 2005 I secured a court victory
public concern and media attention. for Malcolm New, the first soldier to win compensation from
the Ministry of Defence for their failure to diagnose and
Their accounts of what happened are truly horrifying – treat his PTSD. And winning awards – in my time as Head of
some were repeatedly raped and abused over a number of Serious Injury at Pannone we won ‘Team of the Year ‘ at the
years – but also because of the significant failings by various Manchester Legal Awards no fewer than three times.
agencies, for example social services and the CPS, to keep
them safe from harm. What has been the most difficult moment in your ca-
reer?
What does this case/deal mean for your client(s)?
I think the most challenging period in any career is the first Why did you become a lawyer and would you still make
I have been acting in civil claims for victims, seeking com- two or three years after qualifying – you are managing your the same decision now?
pensation from Rochdale Borough Council for their failure own caseload for the first time but you don’t have long ex-
to protect these vulnerable children. No amount of money perience to fall back on. It was during this period that I I became a lawyer to help redress the balance: I have only
will ever make up for what my clients have had to endure, worked on the North Wales Child Abuse inquiry with all the ever wanted to act for vulnerable people who needed
but that compensation – including the costs of counselling, demands – from clients and media – that brought. At times someone to fight for them. Despite the pressures, I’d make
therapy and education - will go some way to helping them it was a challenging experience but it also shaped my sub- exactly the same decision now; I’ve seen over the past 20
to try and rebuild their lives. sequent career. years how the law, at its best, can help the most vulnerable
and can promote progressive social change.
These women had their childhoods robbed and futures ru- Who has had the most influence over your career?
ined and this is the very least that they deserve. What are your plans for the future?
It’s a bit invidious to single anyone out because having
What was the biggest issue you had to overcome in the worked at Pannone for 23 years and now Slater and Gordon, The current wave of child abuse cases shows no signs of
case/deal? I have been lucky to work with many very fine lawyers, and abating and it has been announced that the Government’s
I have learnt from and been inspired by all of them. Both Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry will last until 2020, possibly
My clients have undergone profound trauma – I have dealt firms have been totally committed to abuse and serious in- longer. I plan to continue with this work and continue to
with abuse cases for 20 years, so thought I’d seen it all, yet jury work, and to fighting for claimants, and have supported fight for what I believe are the necessary changes – like
these cases are amongst the most extreme and shocking I me throughout. I have also benefited from working with mandatory reporting of abuse and better treatment of vul-
have worked on. Many of the young women involved have colleagues in the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers nerable complainants in criminal cases. I also hope to con-
also been let down by professionals who should have pro- (ACAL), which I co-founded in 1997. At that time, abuse tinue being part of the exciting development and
tected them. As a result, many of my clients are extremely work was relatively new and through ACAL, we have tried expansion of Slater and Gordon. To date I have written sev-
vulnerable and understandably reluctant to trust anyone. to ensure that the next generation of lawyers has been bet- eral books on the legal and other issues in abuse cases and
My biggest challenge has been to overcome that legacy of ter equipped to represent survivors effectively. Last, but not if time permits I will probably write more.
fear and mistrust. least, my clients: I have represented many people who have
inspired me with their strength, courage and determination.

Manchester Law Library Society

moves to Deansgate

This summer, the Manchester Law Library Society said goodbye to its 14 Kennedy Street prem-
ises and hello to its new home in Onward Buildings, Deansgate.
The Manchester Law Library, began life in 1820 operating from premises above the Star Inn pub-
lic house on Deansgate and it has since moved around the city. In 1844, it amalgamated with
the Law Library Association (est.1838) to serve solicitors as well as barristers, and having moved
from premises on Deansgate to King Street, it then moved to Norfolk Street, Cross Street and
finally settled in its purpose-built venetian-style Kennedy Street accommodation in 1885. Hav-
ing began life above a public house on Deansgate, it now does a full circle returning to accom-
modation in what was once the Temperance Society – Onward Buildings, Deansgate.

It is with some regret that the Manchester Law Library leaves the premises which were purpose-
fully designed for it by Thomas Hartas back in 1884. But whilst its members are sad to say good-
bye to 14 Kennedy Street, the move will ensure that the Law Library can continue to provide
its services, and from more modern, and more centrally-located premises. The Library, with its
dedicated librarians offering research and lending facilities, shall continue to offer both pro-
fessions extensive and rich legal resources.

Onward Building - which is located nearer to the beating heart of Manchester’s legal commu-
nity, the Civil Justice Centre - will have more modern facilities, including wheelchair access, more
computer terminals and free wi-fi access. The premises are also big enough for the Library to
continue to offer reading rooms and conference accommodation, as well as lending facilities.
Law Librarians Janet Taylor and Jane Riley
A “house-warming” event is planned for over the summer months.