Legal Life: Community Spotlight on Clair Ponting, Membership & Events Exec, BLS
What is your background and training?
I was born in Bath to parents also born in Bath. I’m an only child and my parents didn’t have much spare cash so I couldn’t have the latest fashions or toys, but it made me value and cherish things. I was bullied at school because of my parents’ lack of money. Dad worked for a Bath removal firm and Mum worked part-time in a shop. Holiday childcare wasn’t around so during the holidays I went to work with Dad. At times it was boring but it did teach me lots of valuable life lessons:
- like my Dad I’m a human satnav;
- how to be respectful and talk to people of all walks of life;
- how to pack a furniture van and a tea chest and most importantly,
- how to make a great cup of tea!
I went to Oldfield Girls’ School, a state comprehensive in Bath and wasn’t sure what career I wanted but one of my options was typing, which I excelled at. When I sat my GCSEs, I had already secured a place on a YTS (forerunner to the modern apprenticeship) and a job at Denning & Co Chartered Accountants based in Queen Square. I left school on 19 June 1989 and started work the following day, aged 16. I will forever be grateful to my first boss, Mike Slator, for taking a chance and giving me the opportunity. I stayed at Dennings for 10 years before changing direction and becoming a Legal Secretary/PA/paralegal. Much of what I learnt on my YTS is still relevant today.
What was the inspiration behind your current career?
I didn’t so much choose my current career as it chose me! In 2008, during the recession I was made redundant, and for the first time in my career I had to look beyond Bath for work. The redundancy unsettled me, as did the sudden death of my father, and I moved jobs frequently often temping or taking contract work. That changed in November 2014, when I joined Bristol Law Society (BLS). I’ve never worked so hard in my life but I've also never felt I belonged anywhere more! I can truly say this is my dream and forever job!
Having been taught to be organised as a PA, running events is similar. I relish being busy and am privileged to be part of BLS, the oldest law society in the country formed in 1770, meeting the great and good at the centre of the thriving local legal scene.
I enjoy organising our events and meeting all of the professionals. As a secretary, I never had to network until I joined BLS. Networking came as quite a shock and hard work to me. Helped by others, particularly Fran, CEO from Manchester Law Society, now I can’t wait to get networking and having a conversation with people, particularly when the Past Presidents and Officers get together.
Tell us about your life outside of work
In 1996 I was attending a step aerobics class which then switched to the new 'in thing' of Line Dancing. After 6 months, I was asked to learn how to teach because of an aptitude for it. I’ve been teaching ever since; dancing makes me feel alive. The class ethos is of laughter, friendship and exercise rather than high achievement. We also try to support charity events such as going to Keynsham Mencap 3 times a year to teach their members to dance, we aren’t just the entertainment, they join in! Anyone is welcome to join us.
My other passion, which I’ve taken a short break from (for health reasons), is rowing. I joined Avon County Rowing Club (at Saltford) as a beginner in the summer 2007. I qualified as a coach in April 2017 and specialised in teaching adult beginners.
A moment (well, 3 really) you are particularly proud of so far?
- When I was 14, I took part in the Bristol Bordeaux Exchange with my school. My correspondent came to us first in November 1987, and so next year, Amelie and I will celebrate 40 years since our exchange and I’m really proud to be one of the successful long term exchange participants. It is like having a parallel family in France, parents, sister and brother, and nieces. Bordeaux is a lovely part of the world too and feels like home. I’ve had a few sleepless nights recently with the forest fires there that came a bit to close for comfort.
- In 2018, I was honoured my rowing club named a boat after me and I was awarded regional volunteer of the year by British Rowing. In 2019, my beginners won 12 out of 16 races at Warwick regatta winning the Victor Ludorum Cup (‘the winner of the games’ awarded to the most successful team/club). I was so proud of them; they had been rowing just 5 months. I’m passionate about the sport and it gave me an immense sense of achievement to see someone progress and develop - hence teaching beginners.
- I started to learn British Sign Language in 2024 and was so very proud to be able to stand behind our President, Coralie McKeivor, on stage and sign some of her speech at the Bristol Legal Awards in 2025. It wasn’t perfect but I only had the speech 5 days before the event and it was more complex than the likes of ‘I want a cat’ or ‘I have an old car’ that I was learning through my course!
What does the future look like for you?
Workwise, I’m involved in a very large project to implement a new CRM system. It is a huge project and hopefully, with all the work I’ve done on it recently, it will make life so much easier both for members ,and me as it will free me up to take on more diverse tasks rather than just data inputting!
If I manage to make it back to rowing, I would love nothing more than teaching adaptive rowing. Adaptive rowing is all about teaching individuals with a disability – be that through amputation, sensory impairment or those with learning difficulties. Rowing is an amazing sport which is trying to reinvent itself from elitism and this can only be done by offering courses and facilities for those with disabilities.
What motto would you say you live your life by?
My father used to say, ‘I only want to help’ and we laughed at him. As I’m getting older, I can understand what he meant! So, if you are a loose end or just fancy sharing a cuppa, drop me a line!