Victoria Schofield

Get to know Victoria

My great grandfather was a First World War soldier who was killed in a workplace accident after returning home from the Somme. This family history gave me a belief in the trade union movement and I've practiced extensively as a trade union lawyer for the last 13 years.

I've worked in the legal sector for 20 years, qualifying as a solicitor in 2005. During the course of my career I've handled many collective and individual employment claims, and have achieved numerous successful outcomes for my clients, both in tribunal and via settlement. I'm experienced in advising on and litigating all types of case, including unfair dismissal, redundancy, and discrimination.

I pride myself on being down to earth and approachable but also on taking a forensic approach to the law.

Career highlights

One of my career highlights was obtaining a settlement for a group of claimants whose employer had sold the business, without any consultation, to an associated company which failed to pay them after the business transferred. The business was then sold again and the eventual new owners inherited liability for the claim, which they resisted. Eventually, after my

intervention, the clients were given monetary compensation but the highlight of this case was that, working with my union client, I was also able to include improved terms and conditions as part of the settlement for the employees, including enhanced sick leave and annual leave entitlement.

In another case I achieved a tribunal judgment in favour of a client who had been dismissed unfairly, including a substantial amount of compensation for the loss of his pension scheme. I was able to give him this news 2 days before Christmas and could hear his family jumping for joy in the background.

The extra mile

I'm a member of the Employment Lawyer’s Association and have delivered external training to my clients on many different subject matters.