How does a criminal defence solicitor end up prosecuting some of the country's most significant fraud cases, and receive an OBE for her contribution to the legal profession?
In Episode 3 of Life in Law, host Charles Peter sits down with Zoe Gascoyne OBE, Director of Fraud Investigation Services and J5 Global Chief of Tax Enforcement at HMRC, to talk about one of the most unusual career journeys in UK criminal law.
Zoe spent 16 years as a criminal defence solicitor in Liverpool, including a high-profile term as Chair of the Criminal Law Solicitors' Association during one of the most contentious periods in legal aid reform. She then made the unusual move from defence to the Crown Prosecution Service's Specialist Fraud Division, before stepping into senior leadership at HMRC, culminating in her recent OBE.
In this honest, wide-ranging conversation, Zoe shares:
→ Why a strong sense of fairness shaped her entire career
→ What it really takes to survive, and stay yourself, in criminal defence
→ The mental toll no one talks about, and the vicarious trauma lawyers carry
→ Navigating ethical lines in a profession with no easy answers
→ Why she crossed from defence to prosecution, and what she learned about justice from doing both
→ The advice she'd give anyone starting a career in criminal law today
This is a conversation for anyone working in criminal law, considering a career in the justice system, or curious about what a 25-year career in the law actually looks like from the inside.
⚖️ Want to build a career in criminal law, without the traditional route?
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The apprenticeship is open to those entering the profession for the first time, paralegals looking to qualify, and career changers seeking a route into law that values experience and dedication as much as academic background.
👉 Find out more about the Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship and the Criminal Law specialism here: https://datalawonline.co.uk/pages/chartered-legal-executive-apprenticeship
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