Londoner Joanna Stanley studied law at the London School of Economics, but took time out to work as an Emirates crew member before returning home and joining the aviation litigation team at Clyde & Co
Why did you study law?
I was living in Tokyo and had been watching too many re-runs of LA Law on cable TV. Sadly, and although I enjoy my job, it's not actually like that.
Starting out as an expatriate flight attendant sounds like an unusual career path for a London lawyer - did you have a plan in mind?
I had finished my degree at London School of Economics and been to law school in London. I wanted to see the world before continuing my legal career and thought that working for an airline sounded really glamorous. I applied to Emirates on a whim, and was stunned when I got the job. I only left Dubai because I was offered a job at a London law firm, which was an opportunity I couldn't turn down.
What attracted you to Emirates?
Emirates was, and still is, a fast-growing airline with lots of new routes, and had a reputation for looking after its crew. In the cold British winter, Dubai sounded wonderful. It wasn't the huge mega-city it is now, just a place along the coast from Abu Dhabi with big plans.
I had a fantastic time and I will always be grateful for that opportunity.
Why the speciality in aviation law? Does that follow from your experience at Emirates?
I grew up in London near Heathrow airport and have always been fascinated by aviation. When I came back from Dubai I was working for an insurance law firm, but I knew that I didn't want to specialise in general insurance.
Aviation law is a niche area, drawing on international law, product liability, personal injury, finance law as well as insurance law. I never know what will land on my desk next.
Clyde & Co is the world's leading aviation law firm, and I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. We act for airlines and their insurers and we handle work that covers all aspects of the management of airlines and aviation generally. I have often drawn on my experience at Emirates - I think it helps to have an insight into how a large airline works.
You say no two days are the same at Clyde & Co - would you have said the same about Emirates?
Definitely. No two flights were ever the same. One day you could be on the way back from Sydney, and a couple of days later on your way to Dhaka. The destinations were very diverse and as a result so were the passenger profiles.
Dealing with the public, you see human nature at its very best and very worst.
What's the weirdest case you've worked on?
I work on a wide range of cases - from dead pets and damaged cargo to the large accidents and everything else in between. Missing or stolen high-value spare parts are surprisingly run of the mill, as are end of lease disputes, so I suppose the weirdest case I have worked on involved a commercial airline that was accused of stealing 14 passenger aircraft.
How about the most satisfying?
A large proportion of my work is investigating and researching the circumstances of the claims our insurer clients are presented with, which can involve reviewing aircraft technical and maintenance records, operational information and accident reports. I have used satellite pictures to locate aircraft and their spare parts.
Give one piece of advice to a young person considering a career in law
Find an area of law you can be passionate about, that coincides with your own interests - it makes getting up in the morning so much easier!
Source: Flight International
