We spoke to Ellie Spence, Lucy Tyler, Molly Francis and Rowan Ketteridge (L-R in the photo above) about their experiences, what they’ve learnt, and what it means to be part of such an important case.
Did you join Rothera Bray purely for the Inquiry?
Ellie: I joined Rothera Bray in June 2025, initially focusing on the early stages of the Inquiry while also assisting on civil matters, including cases such as Wayne and Sharon’s.
Lucy: I joined Rothera Bray in September 2025 when the Inquiry was getting underway and worked only on the Inquiry for the first few months. I then moved into a mix of Personal Injury and Inquiry work, with a heavier concentration on the Inquiry.
Molly: I had come across Rothera Bray at a university event and had always been interested in the firm. I joined because I was really interested in moving into Serious Injury work and I wanted to learn more about Public Law.
Rowan: I was given the opportunity to join Rothera Bray as a Paralegal on the Public Inquiry, initially assisting with reviewing the substantial volumes of disclosure received in preparation for the hearings.
Did you travel to London regularly to attend the Inquiry, or are you mostly in the office?
Ellie: During the early phases of the Inquiry, I travelled to London to attend hearings. As my role has developed, I am now primarily based in Nottingham, focusing on civil claims running alongside the Inquiry.
Lucy: I split my time between London and our Nottingham office, usually attending the Inquiry every other week and staying in London for the full week. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to work across different locations.
Molly: I was in London for the entire Inquiry and attended every hearing. On the days the Inquiry was not sitting, I worked from our Nottingham office.
Rowan: I attended the hearings monthly alongside my office-based work, balancing both elements as part of my role.
What does your day-to-day workload look like?
Ellie: My workload is varied and involves balancing multiple priorities. I work largely behind the scenes on civil cases, ensuring clients’ claims progress alongside the Inquiry. This includes managing client communication, progressing rehabilitation and damages claims, and supporting Inquiry-related work such as preparing witness materials or locating key information during hearings.
Lucy: My workload differed depending on whether I was attending the hearings. When I was in London, I sat in on hearings, listened to evidence and made notes, while also supporting our clients and helping them understand the evidence being presented. I also drafted detailed witness briefs for Counsel, reviewed Rule 9 statements (formal written witness statements requested by the Inquiry), analysed disclosure, identified key issues and suggested lines of questioning for Rule 10 requests (applications to ask questions of witnesses during hearings). I coordinated these with the wider team to ensure deadlines are met.
Molly: My day-to-day workload consists of a wide variety of tasks. In the Nottingham Inquiry, one of my main roles is client care and ensuring the clients are kept fully informed as to what is happening with the Inquiry and their cases and making sure they are comfortable and have everything they need. During the Inquiry itself, I was responsible for managing Inquiry costs and maintaining the file. In addition, I drafted documents for Counsel to support hearings and drafted various correspondence to Defendants and the main Inquiry team.
Rowan: During the Inquiry, my role included attending hearings, preparing witness briefs to assist Counsel with Rule 10 applications, reviewing disclosure, and creating documents to help clients understand the evidence. I also provided direct support to clients throughout the process.
Have you ever worked on a case like this before?
Ellie: This is my first role in the legal field, so it has been both challenging and rewarding. It’s been a steep learning curve, but I’ve benefited greatly from the guidance and support of colleagues and Counsel.
Lucy: This is my first paralegal role, and I haven’t worked on a case of this size or profile before. It’s been a privilege to be involved in such a significant Inquiry and to support our clients in ensuring their voices are heard.
Molly: I have not worked on a public case such as this one, but I have worked in Personal Injury for the past few years.
Rowan: This is my first legal role and the first case I’ve worked on, which has made it an incredibly rewarding experience and a strong foundation for developing my skills.
What have you learnt from your work on the Nottingham Inquiry?
Ellie: I’ve developed both technical and interpersonal skills, including managing tight deadlines, handling extensive disclosure, liaising with Counsel, and supporting clients. It has also required professionalism and composure when dealing with difficult and distressing evidence during hearings.
Lucy: The experience has helped me build strong legal skills, particularly in analysing evidence, preparing detailed documentation and working collaboratively with Counsel and colleagues, while also supporting clients throughout the process.
Molly: Working on the Inquiry has taught me how to manage a significant workload while maintaining attention to detail and meeting very strict deadlines. It has strengthened my organisational skills, improved my ability to prioritise tasks, and given me experience in dealing with sensitive information and vulnerable clients. I have also developed a much stronger understanding of working collaboratively with my colleagues and the importance of communication within a large team. I have learnt how to manage emotional situations and assist clients practically and emotionally.
Rowan: Working in a fast-paced environment has allowed me to learn quickly and develop my legal knowledge, while also understanding the importance of clear communication and client support.
Do you have any comments about working within the Inquiry team?
Ellie: The wider team has been exceptional. There’s a strong culture of collaboration and shared purpose, with everyone contributing to achieving the Inquiry’s objectives.
Lucy: I’ve really enjoyed working with such a compassionate and hard-working team and building relationships with both colleagues and Counsel. Together, we have provided support, empathy, and guidance to our clients.
Molly: I could not have asked for a better Inquiry team to work with at Rothera Bray. Every single person has put in 100% and worked any job needed for this Inquiry. I have learnt so much from all of them. Everyone has been happy to help and completely focused on working as a team to make the Inquiry work. Both Greg and Julie have given me and the team so much support and were always there to answer any questions.
Rowan: The team has been incredibly collaborative and supportive, creating an encouraging environment to learn and contribute meaningfully to the work.
Any final reflections on your experience?
Ellie: It has been a privilege to be involved in work that supports individual clients while also having the potential to drive lasting change.
Lucy: It’s been a rewarding experience to contribute to such an important Inquiry and to help ensure our clients’ voices are heard.
Molly: My work at Rothera Bray has been extremely positive so far. I have been given so many opportunities to develop here and to work on meaningful and challenging matters. While the workload is demanding, I have learned so much from everyone and am grateful for the trust placed in me. To assist on a Public Inquiry this early on in my career has been an amazing experience and I feel that I have developed so much as a person since I started here.
Rowan: Being part of the Nottingham Public Inquiry has been especially meaningful, contributing to work that will have a lasting impact and making a real difference to our clients.
Interested in a career at Rothera Bray?
Experiences like these reflect the level of responsibility, collaboration and meaningful work our teams are involved in from an early stage.
To find out more about current opportunities, visit our careers page:
https://rotherabray.co.uk/careers/
