Sue James

Director and solicitor at Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre and a specialist in housing law. Sue provides support for marginalised and vulnerable groups so they can make their voices heard.

Access to Justice

Sue James is Director and solicitor at Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre and a specialist in housing law. In 2017 she won the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY`s) Outstanding Achievement Award. She is a founding trustee at Ealing Law Centre which opened in 2013. She has worked in law centre`s for most of her career. She writes a regular column for Legal Action Magazine and also writes on legal aid and access to justice for other legal journals. Last year she joined the editorial team to produce the Legal Aid Handbook 2018/19. 

Through her law centre work, Sue provides support for marginalised and vulnerable groups so they can make their voices heard. One of her client’s stories was incorporated into ‘The Invisible’, a play about legal aid, at the Shepherds Bush Theatre. She wants those in positions of power, including the media, who can influence change to do more to put a spotlight on what is happening to some of the most vulnerable in our society. 

Previous talks at Being The Story

The Power of Stories to Make the Invisible Visible

Sue’s mantra to “find the story and give the client a voice” guides her work. At Being The Story 2016 she described what her “normal” looks like. Sue shared her belief that in order to find solutions for people, it’s important to know their stories. By finding someone’s story, Sue believes you can properly advocate on their behalf and ensure they get access to justice. She also set a challenge to those in positions of power, including the media, who can influence change to do more to put a spotlight on what is happening to some of the most vulnerable in our society.