A Royal Reception and Inspiring Conversations

A Busy February for Pauline Campbell

Earlier this February, Waterside Press author Pauline Campbell (Lefty Lawyer) enjoyed a phenomenal couple of weeks, marked by royal recognition for her public service and a powerful speaking engagement in the heart of the legal sector.

Honoured at St James’s Palace

Pauline’s month began with a prestigious invitation to St James’s Palace for a special event celebrating the dedication of individuals working across local government. During the reception, Pauline had the privilege of meeting and shaking hands with His Majesty King Charles III.

Having spent her entire career in local government, Pauline found it deeply meaningful to stand alongside colleagues from across the country, including three brilliant officers from Waltham Forest Social Services and Public Health. She was nominated for the event by her Chief Executive, Linzi Roberts-Egan, whose recognition of Pauline’s work as a Principal Lawyer, Chair of the Race Equality Network, and her vital pro bono support to Windrush communities, was both heartfelt and humbling.

Empowering the Next Generation at Clifford Chance

Shortly after, Pauline was welcomed to the global law firm Clifford Chance as a guest author to discuss her book, Lefty Lawyer, published by Waterside Press.

Hosted by the Reach (Race Equality and Celebrating Heritage) Book Club Committee, the evening was a phenomenal success, filled with warmth, energy, and purpose. Pauline took the stage for an engaging interview, before meeting with attendees and Clifford Chance partners Sam Brown and Guy Burkitt. She was also joined by steadfast supporters of her journey, including her CEO for the Justice4Windrush charity, Colin McFarlane, his wife Kate, and fellow Trustees Claire Hodgson and Brenda King.

Reflecting on the event, Pauline noted how much she valued the opportunity to connect with the firm’s Access Interns, a group of bright young individuals clearly on their way to brilliant careers. “Every person in the room carried their own strength,” Pauline shared, “and I left feeling genuinely empowered.”

Allyship in Action

The Clifford Chance event highlighted the vital intersection of Pauline’s writing and her ongoing legal advocacy. Working as the Supervising Lawyer with the Justice4 charity—alongside Clifford Chance volunteers in the Legal Pro Bono Clinic supporting Windrush clients—has demonstrated “allyship in action in a way that is hard to put into words.”

Lefty Lawyer is a core part of that journey, documenting the fight for justice and the power of speaking truth to power. Surrounded by incredible people and looking ahead to the future, Pauline summed up the momentum of the past few weeks perfectly:

“The only way is UP.”

The book