Express & Star

Career as a barrister beckons for ex-cleaner

At 16, Lee Wood left his Wednesfield school without any qualifications and spent eight years as a leisure centre cleaner. Now more than 20 years later, he's just passed his final bar exam and is a qualified barrister.

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At 16, Lee Wood left his Wednesfield school without any qualifications and spent eight years as a leisure centre cleaner. Now more than 20 years later, he's just passed his final bar exam and is a qualified barrister.

"It's only later on when you realise how important exams are," says Lee, now aged 37. "But I suppose this demonstrates that no matter what your age or status is, you can achieve anything." Despite always having an interest in politics, Mr Wood, says he was a bit of a 'Jack-the-lad' at school.

He left Wednesfield High School in 1990 and spent a few years working as a self-employed window cleaner.

In 1994 Mr Wood, of Graiseley Lane, Wednesfield, tried a stint as a double glazing salesman, until he was made redundant.

After a lengthy spell of unemployment, in 1998 Mr Wood got a job as a part-time cleaner at Healthland Leisure Centre, in Bentley Bridge but the business went into administration in 2006.

"A friend was thinking about doing a law course, I was 32 and she was 30, so I guess it all started there, but I'd always been interested in law. The truth is I'd still be at the leisure centre today, but I say everything happens for a reason. The thing was it was a great place to work, I miss the camaraderie."

Despite having no qualifications, Mr Wood was accepted onto to a law degree course at the University of Wolverhampton.

He later had to compete with around 300 people to get a scholarship with the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, which is one of the Four Inns of Court to call their members to the English Bar as barristers.

Finishing with a first class degree Mr Wood moved on to studying at Birmingham's College of Law, in 2009.

Two years later he has finished his studies and is now looking to start his pupillage — the barrister's equivalent of the training contrac.

He said:"It's never too late to achieve, regardless of age or status, if you have ambitions then pursue it."

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