Hannah Smale

Since qualifying as a Solicitor in May 2022, I’ve focused on cases involving stillbirth, maternal injuries, neonatal injuries, and birth-related fatalities. I’m passionate about making a difference to the lives of vulnerable individuals and families. My work combines the challenge of navigating complex legal cases with the personal fulfilment of achieving fair compensation for my clients.

I joined Fletchers as a Paralegal before graduating from my law degree. As a student I was fortunate enough to shadow a surgeon in his medico-legal appointments, which got me interested in a career in clinical negligence and encouraged me to apply to Fletchers. I’ve also worked at a defendant law firm, which gave me experience working on both sides of the fence, before returning to Fletchers in January 2025.

I developed my interest in birth injury work early on in my career as a paralegal. Through working with and assisting solicitors like Trevor, Parbeen, Maya and Leanne as a junior lawyer, I was inspired by their close involvement with clients and their families. This developed my clear understanding of the profound and often lifelong impact that avoidable injuries sustained during pregnancy and birth can have.

I’ve continued to be motivated throughout my career by being able to support families at particularly challenging times in their lives. I often listen to clients’ experiences and have seen the difference that sensitive and specialist legal representation can have, which has reinforced my interest in this area of law.

I think that building strong relationships with clients is an essential part of my role. I take the time to speak to clients personally, listen to their experiences and understand what matters most to them as a family. Where possible, I value meeting clients in their own homes as this often helps with understanding the day-to-day aspects of their lives. I appreciate that instructing solicitors can feel daunting, especially after what is often the worst time in someone’s life. I’m always mindful of the small but important details, such as a client’s preferred method and timing of communication.

Our team is led by Trevor Ward who has a wealth of experience in clinical negligence and birth injury work and is always helpful. I assist Jill Heywood on her cases who has a wealth of clinical negligence experience and is knowledgeable and passionate about the work she does, which shines through as I work with her day to day.

I joined Fletchers as a paralegal in 2017 straight out of university, before I graduated. I worked my way up starting in the Medical Negligence Serious Injury Department, which evolved into the Birth Injury Team. I’ve had my entire career at Fletchers, eventually qualifying here in 2022. I enjoy the culture at Fletchers and the ‘open-door’ policy and have made friends for life at the firm.

I’ve recently become an Auntie to my lovely little nephew. I’m a keen traveller and enjoy visiting Japan – where I’m getting married in 2026!