Last week Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors, visited the University of Bristol to speak with law students about the realities of working in legal aid and the importance of access to justice.

The session formed part of the University’s engagement with practising lawyers, giving students the opportunity to hear directly from a solicitor working at the forefront of publicly funded law. Beverley shared reflections from her own career and spoke about the role legal aid continues to play in ensuring individuals and families can obtain legal representation when facing some of the most serious challenges in their lives.

Beverley qualified as a solicitor in 1988 at a large London legal aid firm before moving to Bristol and establishing Watkins Solicitors in 1998. What began as a small practice has since grown into a firm employing more than 50 people across offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford. The firm continues to carry out a significant amount of legal aid work across areas including family law, education law and judicial review.

During the talk, Beverley spoke about the realities of practising in publicly funded law and the pressures facing the legal aid system. Despite legal aid rates remaining largely unchanged for decades, legal aid lawyers continue to represent individuals and families in complex and often urgent cases where legal intervention can make a profound difference.

Drawing on examples from practice, Beverley explained how legal aid work frequently involves supporting vulnerable clients and acting quickly to protect children and families. She also spoke about the role of judicial review in holding public authorities to account when lawful decisions are not being made.

The session provided students with valuable insight into the responsibilities and rewards of working in areas of law that have a direct impact on people’s lives. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions about career pathways, training routes and the experience of working in a specialist law firm.

In addition to leading Watkins Solicitors, Beverley currently serves as Vice Chair of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and represents Bristol on the Law Society Council. She was also named Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2025 for Family Law, including children’s rights.

Engaging with universities and future lawyers remains an important part of Watkins Solicitors’ wider commitment to both the legal profession and the communities the firm serves. By sharing practical insight into legal aid work, the firm hopes to encourage the next generation of lawyers to consider careers in areas of law that play a vital role in protecting access to justice.