We sat down with Sarah and asked her a few questions about herself and her route which has led her to Tree Law. Here’s what she had to say:
- What inspired you to become a solicitor, and what drew you to specialise in tree law?
My career decision was made at a pretty young age, deciding to study law at university. I was drawn to law from watching exciting legal films and TV shows and thinking that would be what working life was like. I have always worked on claims involving trees but that has grown (pardon the pun) to include more than just claims involving damage caused by trees. I was struck by how people’s love of trees was changing the way in which legal claims involving trees needed to be handled. I decided to branch out and offer an environmentally friendly, tree focused service to clients across the UK.
- What does a typical day look like for you as a solicitor specializing in this unique field?
There isn’t really a typical day as it depends what’s in the diary and the diary is always ready to be bumped to the back of the queue if something urgent crops up. Typically as the owner of a scaleup business the day consists of working on client matters, working on operational issues with the head of operations and managing the team. As the big goal this year is to double the revenue of the business, a lot of time is spent working on marketing strategy and preparing content. Current favourite form of content is YouTube shorts!
- Can you share a particularly memorable case you’ve worked on involving tree law?
All cases feel memorable and the sort of cases that really strike a chord with me are ones where the impact of our involvement has made a real difference to the client. For example a client had a claim for subsidence damage to her business premises which had been rejected incorrectly but, after supporting her through a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman, this claim was reinstated and managed. As it involved her business premises for her business I could really empathise with the difference that the success in this claim would have to her and her livelihood.
- What do you find most rewarding about your work?
The most rewarding thing about my work is building Tree Law as a business from the ground up. Having the freedom to build a business which is authentic and aligns with my values. Working with a huge variety of clients is really rewarding as it gives such a full understanding of all sides of the argument, when involved in a legal claim.
- What challenges have you faced in your career, and how have they shaped your professional journey?
A few of the key challenges that spring to mind are:
2008 credit crunch and when the PPI litigation started. I was working for a firm who acted for large banking clients who were dealing with the influx of PPI litigation which started and grew so quickly, putting everyone under a significant amount of pressure.
When my team lost one of its large clients and we had to relocated team members and risked making some team members redundant. That was such a hard time but I remain sure that it led to opportunities for others in new roles which they went on to enjoy so it wasn’t all bad!
Deciding to relocate to a new job which meant moving from a firm where I had a lot of support and knew people very well to a new team, in a new city, involving a house move. That was a time where personal and work change happened at the same time, which was challenging.
- If you weren’t a solicitor, what other career path could you see yourself pursuing?
Some might know that I love nails. I have a nail qualification and always do my own nails and often do nails for my friends. So another career path would definitely have been a nail bar.
- What advice would you give to someone considering a career in law, especially in a niche area like tree law?
Id advise anyone interested in a career in law to explore or routes available to get into law. There are so many options ranging from a legal apprenticeship up to a law degree and training contract. Once you’re in the profession always keep your options open when it comes to picking what you want to specialise in. You might find the thing you end up loving takes you by surprise and you’d have missed it if your focus was elsewhere.
- What’s a fun or surprising fact about tree law that most people wouldn’t know?
We are the only firm in the world which specialises in the law around trees.
- Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time? Do you have any hobbies or interests related to trees or nature?
I am lucky enough to live by the coast. I love sea swimming, the colder the water the better.
- What are your hopes for the future of your field, and how do you see your role evolving in the coming years?
My hopes for the field of law are that it continues to grow and develop into an area that reflects the true value of our trees. With climate changing having led to new record high temperatures we need trees to be able to continue to live in our cities. Trees are so valuable and I hope that fighting for them results in their increased protection.
Get to know our CEO more here – Sarah Dodd | Tree Law – Legal tree expert
Tree Law TV ‘getting to know me’ episode – About me
