Solicitors

Rob Wilks – Solicitor and Head of Legal Services

Deaf, Rob has worked for RAD for seven years. Originally from Newport, South Wales, he has a BA (Hons) degree in History, and commenced his legal training having completed Diplomas in Law and Legal Practice. He completed a LLM in Law of Employment Relations with the University of Leicester in 2008.

Rob’s specialist area of law is employment, but he can also advise on discrimination in housing, goods and services and education. He is also able to draft wills on behalf of clients, and provide advice in divorce matters.

Having qualified as a solicitor in May 2007, Rob handles all complex legal casework in this capacity where required. Rob manages RAD Legal Services, and line manages the Supervising Caseworker and his BSL/English Interpreter.

Rob is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Head Office

Sue Mountford - Head of Advocacy and Employment

Hearing, Sue has been PA to some high profile management figures in the retail industry, and joined RAD in November 2005 as a Personal Assistant. She supports the Head of Legal Services with business development and networking.

Hailing from Yorkshire, Sue has two children, and juggles the demands of her role with the demands of being a mother.

Caseworkers

Laura Eadsforth – Supervising Caseworker

Deaf, Laura is a graduate of the University of Central Lancashire with a BA (Hons) degree in Deaf Studies and Sociology, and completed her MA in Television Studies with the University of Wales Aberystwyth in July 2009.

Laura has worked for RAD since June 2005 and now line manages the caseworkers as well as the Team Communicator. She is a specialist caseworker in the areas of welfare benefits, employment, debt and housing, and has a particular interest in family law. Laura is very keen to develop RAD Legal Services and is working closely with the Head of Legal Services to do so.

Laura is registered as a Level 1: Initial Advice adviser in immigration matters in all areas, and has completed the first year of a ILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, with the aim of becoming a Legal Executive.

Daniel Webster – Caseworker

Deaf, Daniel joined RAD in October 2006 and has held a number of different posts. He started out as a volunteer before becoming a Youth Worker.

Daniel feels his position helps him to make a positive impact on the lives of Deaf people and he is excited about working with such a friendly and experienced team. He has developed a particular specialism in money advice and debt matters, and co-ordinates all our volunteers.

Daniel is registered as a Level 1: Initial Advice adviser in immigration matters in all areas, has completed a Citizens Advice financial capability training skills course, is due to commence a volunteer management course, and is currently working towards achieving a Level 3 NVQ in Legal Advice with Advice UK.

Paul Lennon – Caseworker

Deaf, Paul joined RAD in February 2008 and originates from Wrexham, North Wales, and is a proud father of four children. He went to Derby College for the Deaf where he studied to be a chef. After acheiving his goal of becoming a head chef he has found a new direction in which to take his career forward.

Orignally starting as a volunteer caseworker, Paul became a full time member of the team, and hopes to improve the quality of life for the Deaf people who use our service. He has developed a particular specialism in welfare benefits, in particular the rights of EU/EEA nationals.

Paul is registered as a Level 1: Initial Advice adviser in immigration matters in all areas, has completed a Citizens Advice financial capability training skills course, and is currently studying the first year of a LLB (Hons) degree with the Open University, with the aim eventually to become a qualified solicitor.

Support Staff

Lianne Lusty – BSL/English Interpreter for Rob Wilks

Hearing, Lianne registered as a Member of the Register of Sign Language Interpreters (MRLSI) in July 2010. After stuying English Literature at the University of Glamorgan, she worked full time at Pravins Jewellers. From there she obtained employment as an Apprentice Interpreter with the Welsh Assembly / RNID’s BSL Futures project, completed the Individual Interpreter Development Programme in 2009 and the Level 4 NVQ Interpreting Units with the RNID in May 2010.

She is now Rob Wilks’ full-time BSL/English Interpreter and is based at the Cardiff office.

Shaunett Harris – Team Communicator

Hearing, Shaunett joined the team from the Metropolitan Police where she worked for six years as a Communication Officer. She completed her Pre-Level 4 in BSL with Remark! in January 2008, and is currently studying her Level 4 in BSL.

She is the Team Communicator for the entire Legal Services team and is based full-time at the Shoreditch office.