Throwback Thursday – Amber Spencer

This week’s throwback Thursday is Amber Spencer who attended Winstanley between 2008 and 2010.

Amber now has the impressive role of lawyer within the criminal advisory team at the HMRC and has very kindly shared her journey with us.

Amber says: ‘I attended Winstanley between 2008 and 2010 and I studied Law, Sociology, History and Spanish. I also picked up the level 3 extended project along the way and achieved 2 A*s and 3 As overall along with a distinction in the AQA Baccalaureate.

I was interested in becoming a solicitor from the age of 16 and this was cemented when I began to study law at Winstanley. I had a very encouraging and inspiring law teacher, who filled me with confidence.

After I left Winstanley, I enrolled at the University of Central Lancashire on a combined Law and Spanish degree but I soon realised that a full time university course was not for me and I was ready for the world of work. I withdrew from the course and secured an administration role at a law cost drafting firm. From there, I became a legal assistant at a law firm and thereafter, a paralegal dealing with personal injury claims. I still had the ambition to qualify as a solicitor and so I enrolled on a part time law degree at Liverpool John Moores University. I qualified as a solicitor in 2019 after achieving a 2:1 in my degree and a distinction in the legal practice course.

After spending 9 years in personal injury litigation, I felt that it was time for a new challenge. I left private practice for the Civil Service and became a Crown Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service in January 2021. The Civil Service is very supportive of career progression and in November2021, I was promoted to Senior Crown Prosecutor. In June 2022, I transferred to HMRC where I continue to work as a lawyer within the criminal advisory team. My role is incredibly interesting and diverse.

My advice to current students wishing to pursue a similar path is that Winstanley will provide you with the tools to unlock your potential if you wish to take them. Work hard, embrace who you are, expand your horizons and don’t give up on your goals!’