The Lawyer Inquiry: Kim Beatson

Kim Beatson specialises in family law and divides her working week between City practice Berrymans and Barnes practice Ashbys. Born in Sheffield, she now lives in Wimbledon.



What was your first job?

Selling cigarettes from a kiosk outside Sheffield Market.



What was your first ever salary as a lawyer?

£3,250 in 1982 (the Law Society recommended minimum rate at the time, and augmented by my waitressing 'salary').



What would you have done if you hadn't become a lawyer?

Been the weather girl on Capital Radio's breakfast show.



Which law could you happily live without?

The Child Support Act in some respects. The agency staff are wholly incapable of dealing with absent parents who occupy a twilight world where income tax is an optional extra.



What was your most embarrassing professional moment?

Describing a client as a "complete wimp" and then discovering him standing behind me.



What car do you drive?

Peugeot 309 GTi (black with red 'go faster' stripes).



Which famous person would you like to spend an evening with?

It would have been Peter Cook.



Where would you go to eat?

Bibendum.



What's the best thing on TV?

Have I Got News For You.



Which movie do you wish you'd appeared in?

Grease.



What's your most-worn piece of clothing?

A black, very roomy Nicole Farhi coat purchased 10 years ago.



What is your all-time favourite record?

Perfect Day by Lou Reed.



What book are you reading at the moment?

The Shipping News - E Annie Proulx.



What piece of advice would you give to anyone entering the profession now?

Resist the pressure to become a corporate clone.



What do you like about yourself?

My independence.



What do you hate about yourself?

My feet (the left one especially)



Where would you most like to be right now?

In Brittany, on holiday with my family.