Leigh’s Fight for Justice Didn’t End in the Courtroom

Leigh, from County Antrim, didn’t just study law, she lived it. 

After leaving school early and surviving a traumatic experience that changed her life at 18, Leigh found herself pulled into the criminal justice system in the most personal of ways. It was an experience that left her determined to make change. 

“Throughout this experience, I knew that I needed to do more so that other victims didn’t have the same experience that I did.” 

Friends and family used to tell her she knew more than most lawyers. So, she made it official. 

While working full-time in hospitality and volunteering in the crown courts, Leigh enrolled with The Open University to study for a Bachelor of Laws.  

“I needed a university that worked around my shifts and The Open University was the only option.” 

Studying law wasn’t just about textbooks and deadlines though, it became a form of empowerment.  

“I was navigating a very traumatic part of my life while studying with the OU. It felt very empowering that I was able to do something that was progressing my goals while everything else felt like it was at a standstill.” 

The flexibility meant Leigh could build her future without putting her life on hold. Tutors gave her room when things were overwhelming, but the OU was also a constant. “It was something I had full control over,” she says. “That stability meant everything during a time when so much else felt uncertain.” 

Leigh didn’t just earn a degree. She used it. After her case concluded, she made the brave decision to waive her right to anonymity and speak publicly about her experience. Today, she works as an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, supporting others navigating the justice system and challenging violence against women and girls. 

Her OU qualification helped her land a role working alongside the PSNI on serious sexual offence cases. She’s since added a qualification in Forensic Psychology to her name and has gone on to study a Master of Laws. Her work focuses on education, prevention, and supporting change, particularly with men in custody and male-dominated groups. 

Looking back, Leigh knows how far she’s come. “I feel immensely proud,” she says. “I didn’t think higher education was for me before starting this course. No one in my extended family had ever gone to university.” 

But Leigh didn’t just complete her degree. She graduated with first-class honours in law. “When I started, I presumed I would drop out and not make it to the end. After three years, I graduated with a 1st class degree in Law, and I couldn’t be prouder.” 

Leigh’s path to a law degree was anything but typical and that’s exactly what makes it powerful. She’s turned her own trauma into purpose and now uses her voice to make sure others don’t face what she did alone.