01/07/2026
Twenty years, one firm, and a career built from the ground up, congratulations, Michelle Moss
This July marks a very special milestone at Russell & Russell. Michelle Moss, our Head of Family Law and an equity partner in the firm, is celebrating twenty years with us.
Michelle’s story is one our firm is enormously proud to tell. She first joined Russell & Russell back in 2006 as a paralegal in our crime department, qualified as a solicitor in 2008, and went on to spend eight years developing the family law department at our Chester office. She returned to Bury as Head of Family Law, where she now leads a close-knit team representing some of the most vulnerable parents and children in care proceedings and children law matters. She is an accredited member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and a member of Resolution.
Two decades with one firm says a great deal, both about Michelle and about the culture she has helped to build. Hers is a career that has grown at every stage, supported by mentors, strengthened by a supportive team, and driven by a genuine belief that the people around you matter. It is exactly the kind of journey we hope to offer everyone who joins us, from paralegals and trainees taking their first steps to the leaders shaping the firm’s future.
To mark the occasion, we sat down with Michelle to look back over her twenty years, from her very first day to life as a partner, and to talk about staying, growing, and helping the next generation to come through the ranks.
Please join us in congratulating Michelle on twenty wonderful years. Here is what she had to say.
Twenty Years at Russell & Russell
Twenty years with one firm is a real milestone. When you think back to your first day in 2006, did you ever imagine you would still be here two decades later?
Honestly, after my first day, I wasn’t sure I would last 2 weeks, let alone my 2 decades. The law degree and Legal Practice Course do not prepare you for the realities of the job. I joined as a paralegal in the crime department, which was eye-opening to say the least. I had to learn a whole new language to communicate with clients and colleagues; instructions were taken in shorthand abbreviations that meant nothing to me; it was “a lot,” as we would say now. But the team at Russell and Russell made the overwhelm so much more manageable; there was a sense of camaraderie that told you, even on day one, you weren’t in it alone; there was always someone who had your back.
What does reaching twenty years at Russell & Russell mean to you?
I am so incredibly proud to still be here 20 years on, a testament to the training, development and support of my peers and my managers along the way.
How has the firm changed over those twenty years, and what has stayed reassuringly the same?
Oh my goodness, so much has changed, not just for the practice, but for the profession as a whole. I do miss the days when you were told by letter when and where a meeting would take place, and you simply turned up!
Seriously though, I think the most significant change for the practice was converting to an LLP in 2019. This was a watershed moment; it was an opportunity for us to let go of the traditional partnership model and become more forward-thinking, to plan for the future and to ensure that in a changing world we had the infrastructure to allow our staff to continue to develop. Even now, only 35% of full equity partners in law firms are women, but at Russell and Russell, it is 45%, which makes me incredibly proud.
And as to what is reassuringly the same…the sense of camaraderie. No matter your position in the firm, you will always have a teammate who has your back…even at partner level! I am so grateful to be part of a team.
If you could send a message back to the version of yourself who walked through the door in 2006, what would you tell her?
Trust your instincts; they are usually right. If you are not sure, ask the question. Secretaries, paralegals, and support staff are your greatest allies, treat them with kindness and respect, they know everything about how the firm operates, will always have your back, and have the best office gossip!
Raising Through the Ranks
You joined in 2006 and qualified as a solicitor in 2008. What was it about Russell & Russell that made you want to build your whole career here?
I always wanted to work in a firm where I was more than just a number, a practice where the people mattered. I received incredible training in every seat of my training contract, and the relationships I formed with managers then shaped my future. Amanda Connor took a chance on me, stealing me away from the crime department, and gave me the confidence to shift my career focus. I have always felt valued and trusted, and in return, I have absolute trust in those around me. Even on the most stressful days, the team around me keep me grounded, and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
What drew you back to the Bury office as Head of Family Law?
It felt like a full-circle moment: I first worked in Bury as a newly qualified solicitor and returned as Head of Department. Whilst I loved every minute of my time at our Chester office, becoming Head of Family Law meant being closer to the centre of our operations. The majority of the family team are based out of Bolton and Bury, so being in Bury gives them better access to me, and me to them.
You are now an equity partner and head of department. How does it feel to have grown into that role from where you started?
I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved, but I couldn’t have done it on my own. I have had the pleasure and privilege of being nurtured and trained for the role by Amanda Connor, who was the best mentor I could have hoped for. And working alongside a dedicated, committed and loyal team gives me the confidence to keep striving for more.
Staying, and Why People Stay
Plenty of solicitors move firms every few years. What has kept you at Russell & Russell for two decades?
Loyalty and commitment have a part to play, but knowing that there were opportunities for me to grow and develop under a strong leadership team was really what kept me here. It sounds like a cliché, but I have always felt like part of a team and that matters to me.
How has the firm supported your development at each stage, from newly qualified through to partnership?
There has been practical support in my continuing professional development through internal training, allowing me to attend courses and giving me the space to forge professional relationships. There has been financial support in paying for my training at every stage, including my ongoing children panel accreditation. But most importantly, there has been emotional support at every stage; I have always had someone to talk to, both on the bad days when it all feels a bit much, but also on the good days when we have celebrated the victories.
Training and Developing Others
As Head of Family Law, you now help develop the next generation within the firm, including trainees like Natasha. What do you enjoy most about supporting people coming up through the ranks?
I love that training and development of junior staff gives me the opportunity to reflect on how far I have come. It is a reminder of just how much you have learned, the information you retain, and the skills you have developed along the way. It is a real privilege to see other members of the team grow their own skills and develop the confidence to practice family law. I am so lucky to work with a team of bright, intelligent solicitors, trainees, and paralegals, whose questions keep me on my toes…even as their “teacher” I am still learning new things all of the time, which I love.
What do you look for when you are helping someone grow from paralegal to trainee to qualified solicitor?
Quiet confidence, but with the humility to know your limitations; I believe this is key, at every stage of your law career. I am particularly impressed when I am approached with a question, but also with a suggestion of what the answer might be.
Is there a piece of advice or a lesson someone gave you early on that you still pass on to your team today?
Don’t try to bury a problem; there is always an answer, and more often than not it is much simpler than you think.
The Work Itself
Your work focuses on care proceedings and children law, and you are an accredited member of the Law Society's Children Panel. What drew you to this area, and what keeps you committed to it?
I always wanted to practice in an area of law that helps people and makes a real difference. My speciality allows me to help some of the most vulnerable parents and children, in the most serious types of proceedings dealt with in the Family Justice System. Despite its challenges, legal aid practice is a privilege, I am able to use my skills to make a real difference in someone’s life. I hope that I make the complex system of family law accessible, understandable, and easier to navigate.
Care and children law can be some of the most demanding work in the profession. What helps you and your team look after clients, and yourselves, through it?
It is important to have strategies to decompress. In the office, we will talk through the troublesome cases and make sure no one feels like they are carrying the weight of the work on their own. Despite the heavy workload and work type, we laugh a lot, and that certainly helps.
Outside of work, I use my commute as a chance to decompress. I love to listen to music and comedy podcasts as I travel to and from work. And at home, I am lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband and son, who know that mummy’s work can be tough some days and extra hugs help!
How would you describe the family team at Bury to someone who has never met them?
Friendly, approachable, loyal, dedicated and knowledgeable. A shining example of how teamwork operates to make a difficult job more manageable.
A Bit More About Michelle
If you hadn't become a solicitor, what do you think you would have done instead?
I wanted to join the police force, but my dad wouldn’t let me; I am very glad about that now!
You talk about enjoying the green spaces around Greater Manchester with your family. Where is your favourite spot to get outdoors and switch off?
Quarry Bank and Styal Mill will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember visiting as a child with my parents (I think my older sister was doing a piece of course work). I vividly remember the noise of the loom. And now, I go with my own family, and I can track the growth of my little boy through our photos, taken in the same spot.
What is something colleagues might be surprised to learn about you?
I have trekked to Everest Base Camp.
How do you like to recharge after a demanding day?
I would love to say something profound, but my guilty secret is that I still watch Home and Away every night, much to my husband’s delight! It is the perfect escape from reality…honestly!
Looking Ahead
After twenty years, what still excites you about the work and the firm?
The opportunities… the chance to help my team achieve their goals, the chance to help more clients navigate the Family Justice System, the chance to grow the practice with a solid group of like-minded directors.
In one line, what would you say to someone considering Russell & Russell as the place to build a long-term legal career?
The opportunities to climb the ladder are there for the taking, the current senior leadership team is a testament to the strength of Russell and Russell’s ability to develop the leaders of the future.
Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.