Monday 1 February 2016 A chance conversation among four lawyers at Michael Lewin Solicitors led to the discovery that they were all alumnae of Leeds Girls’ High School. The women, whose common bond has helped then to forge a strong relationship within the firm, all chose a variety of ways into the legal profession after leaving school. The managing director of Michael Lewin is Abbie Keech (OG 95). After leaving LGHS, Abbie did a degree in microbiology at Newcastle University and then researched oral microbiology for over two years, working at the dental school in Leeds. She then went on to work in HR at Asda and fitted in some travel to Africa, including visiting Malawi. It was particularly interesting for Abbie to re-visit the country where, as a schoolgirl at LGHS, she had helped to sponsor a Malawian girl through her education at a cost of £50 a year. The girl went on to fulfil her dreams of becoming a pilot. Back in Leeds, Abbie worked first as a temp for an accountant and then for Michael Lewin, where she decided to study for her graduate diploma in law and the legal practice course at BPP in Leeds. About that time she married and she is now the mother of three young children. Her eldest child, Zander, is a pupil at Rose Court. Abbie said: “It’s great to go to school events like sports day and meet up with fellow alumni who are also sending their children to the school. LGHS helped me so much and gave me so much assistance that I am delighted to give my own children the same opportunity through GSAL.” Crystal Bolton (OG 04) is an employment solicitor at Michael Lewin. After school she took a course in business studies at Leeds Metropolitan University and, like Abbie, didn’t go into law immediately after graduation. Instead she spent some time travelling and earning cash by selling shoes and waitressing, before doing her legal qualifications at BPP in Leeds. Crystal also has fond memories of LGHS and recalled a particular prank she got up to, egged on by her friends not long before the year group went on study leave prior to their A level exams. She was bandaged from head to foot in toilet paper and spent an entire lunchtime standing in a statuesque pose in the school hall, much to the amusement and wonder of the lunch queue. She said: “I couldn’t move or break out, as that would have revealed my identity. At the end of lunchtime I jumped off and no-one ever found out who it was.” (Sorry Crystal, – until now!) The third member of the quartet at Michel Lewin is Kristina Goodwin (OG 08), a fee earner specialising in industrial disease. Her route into a career in law began with legal training, including studying for her graduate diploma in law and bar professional qualifications at the College of Law in Manchester, following her degree in history at the University of Manchester. Originally Kristina, who achieved an RAF scholarship whilst she was in the sixth form at LGHS, wanted to be a fighter pilot but her torso was slightly too short for the Eurofighter, so she decided to focus her attention on a career in the legal profession. Kristina said: “School instils so much into you that you do not realise at the time, but you realise the strength of it afterwards.” The fourth alumna, Katie Kunz (OG05), is currently a trainee solicitor. She works in the industrial diseases department, as well as dealing with delayed flight claims. Katie studied psychology at Northumbria University and then went on to achieve a graduate diploma in law and the legal practice course before starting her career in law. Katie too has fond memories of her time at LGHS and recalls one of her funniest memories when physics teachers, Mrs Andrews and Miss Bryant, did a physics rap performance in a school assembly at the Eleanor Lupton Centre! Katie said: “At LGHS I developed a strong work ethic and confidence in what I could achieve.” All four took part in a variety of the LGHS extra-curricular activities and in particular the Young Enterprise scheme and choir. Crystal took part in several drama productions and Katie was a keen member of the debating society. Both put their confidence, presentation skills and the ability to argue a case down to their education and extra-curricular opportunities. Since this interview Kristina has moved to LPC Law to gain more advocacy experience. Pictured (L-R): are: Crystal Bolton, Abbie Keech, Katie Kunz and Kristina Goodwin. Alumni
