In the run-up to the 20th Yorkshire Legal Awards on 10 October, Yorkshire Legal News is profiling a number finalists to find out why they entered, what they’ve achieved, and what it would mean to win
Leeds-based Thrive Law has been named as a finalist in Diversity and Inclusion and Employment Law (sponsored by St Philips Chambers), while its founder, Jodie Hill, is up for Rising Star of the Year (sponsored by Park Square Barristers). She explains what this means to the new firm.
YLN: Why did you enter the Yorkshire Legal Awards?
Hill: Everybody in the region working in the legal profession knows about Yorkshire Legal and the awards. Internally at Thrive Law, we felt we had achieved so many positive things in our first year, so entering the awards seemed the logical platform on which to assess where we really were versus our peers. Plus there was a chance we could get dressed up for a big night out!
YLN: Why do you think you were selected as a finalist?
Hill: I believe it’s because Thrive Law is breaking the traditional mould for what it means to be a law firm. We are intentionally approaching aspects of the legal profession from different angles and trying to give something back to businesses and the community. We’re not afraid to trial and experiment ways of working and are fluid in our approach to what works and what doesn’t. Despite being such a young practice, we have a large focus on activities outside of fee earning including seminars on mental health in the workplace, our Thriving Minds conference and our quarterly Thrive Women events. This hopefully made us stand out from the crowd.
YLN: How good have the last 12 months been?
Hill: The last 12 months have been something really special. It hasn’t always been an easy ride as anyone who runs their own business will tell you, but the achievements easily outweigh the hard work. We have also received some fantastic support along the way and I’d like to use this opportunity to thank everybody involved. Thrive Law started out as just myself and now we are a team of 10 and we continue to go from strength to strength. We hosted seven successful events last year and received positive feedback from clients, businesses, colleagues and peers alike. It’s been an amazing year, we’ve received some amazing support and I can’t wait to see what the next 12 months brings.
YLN: What would winning mean to you?
Hill: It’s not so much what winning would mean to me, but what winning would mean to those that have believed in Thrive Law and my amazing team. Eighteen months ago I had recovered from a breakdown and was opening a legal practice as a woman in a male partner dominated profession, the odds were certainly against me. Winning would serve as a huge thank you to those that have shown faith in me and hopefully inspire others to realise that anything is possible.
