Deborah Eke’s legal career has spanned jurisdictions, practice areas, and major life milestones. Since moving to the UK, she has requalified, built a civil advocacy practice, met her husband, and recently returned to work following maternity leave after welcoming her son, Zimuzo. In this blog, Deborah reflects on her journey into law, what attracted her to the 8PP model, and how its structure supports both professional development and life beyond the courtroom.
What first inspired you to pursue a career in law?
Law was part of my upbringing, largely because of my dad’s background. He studied Law and later went on to study criminology while working with the Police Force in Nigeria. Although he was never called to the Nigerian Bar, he worked for several years as a prosecutor for the Nigerian Police, which meant I grew up seeing the practical impact of law and criminal justice.
As I got older – probably around the age of 15 – I began to understand more clearly what his work involved. I spent time visiting his office and became increasingly interested in the role law plays in society, particularly in criminal matters. After retiring from the Police, my dad later ran a security agency until his death in 2021.
That early exposure stayed with me. Although my dad encouraged me to explore different options, including areas outside traditional legal practice, my interest in law had already taken hold and ultimately shaped the path I chose.
What was your legal background before moving to the UK?
I qualified and practised in Nigeria for over four years. The training there is very broad, so you don’t specialise early on. I worked across criminal law, property, land disputes, and general litigation. You’re expected to be able to handle a wide range of legal work, which gives you a strong and adaptable foundation.
When I came to the UK, that changed. Here, you specialise much earlier, and I decided to focus on civil law and, in particular, advocacy. I’ve focused on advocacy work since 2021.
Why did you decide to move to the UK?
Family was the main reason. I wanted to be closer to them, and Liverpool made sense for me. Professionally, I also wanted to challenge myself in a different legal system, even though that meant learning from the ground up in many respects.
Since moving here, a lot has happened. I met my husband through church after arriving in the UK – he’s a doctor and psychiatrist with the NHS – and we’ve built our life in Liverpool together. Add a career transition and now a baby, and it’s definitely been a busy few years of change.
How did you find settling in Liverpool?
Liverpool has been a really positive experience. It’s a beautiful city, and the people are genuinely friendly and welcoming, both socially and professionally. That openness makes a big difference, especially when you’re finding your footing in a new country and legal system.
What work do you focus on now?
I work mainly on civil litigation, including housing disrepair matters. It’s challenging and rewarding work, and you can see how it directly affects people’s lives. Over time, I’d like to broaden my practice and add other areas, but for now my focus is on developing my advocacy skills and gaining as much experience as possible.
I still see this as a learning phase, and I’m very much open to where that takes me.
What attracted you to 8PP?
What stood out straight away was the model. 8PP offers salaried employment with a supportive framework. This enables you to focus on high-quality advocacy and litigation work with an emphasis on strategy, preparation, and being in court.
The team environment is also a huge part of it. It’s stable, collaborative, and genuinely supportive. From day one, people were approachable and willing to help. Craig Leigh who is 8PP’s Managing Director (and a Barrister) is incredibly hands-on and always available when guidance is needed. That kind of structure makes a real difference, particularly when you’re developing your practice within a new jurisdiction.
Having a Liverpool base with a nationwide practice also appealed to me – it offers variety without the pressure that often comes with more traditional models at the Bar.
You’ve recently returned from maternity leave – how has that transition been?
I returned to work in September after having my son, Zimuzo, who’s now 14 months old. Being able to take maternity leave and then return to work feeling supported and valued made a huge difference.
The flexibility and understanding at 8PP meant that coming back felt realistic and positive rather than overwhelming. It showed me that it really is possible to build a serious advocacy career while also having a family, which isn’t always easy in this profession.
What does a typical weekend look like for you?
My weekends are quite relaxed. On Saturdays, my husband usually plays football while I catch up on house jobs, do the food shop, or cook. Evenings are for winding down, often with a film.
Sundays are centred around church, swimming lessons for Zimuzo, and sometimes visiting friends. It’s a good balance and a chance to reset before the week ahead.
Do you miss anything about Nigeria?
Definitely the food – it never tastes quite the same here! I’m still connected to my old firm and hope to do some work back in Nigeria again in the future, which would be really meaningful for me.
Looking ahead, what matters most to you professionally?
Right now, it’s about learning, developing, and becoming the best advocate I can be. I want to build strong experience over the next few years and then decide what the next chapter looks like.
Being part of a workplace that supports growth, flexibility, and real life alongside professional ambition matters hugely to me, and that’s something I’ve found at 8PP.
Final thoughts
Everyone’s journey into law looks different, and that diversity of background and experience is a strength. What really matters is having the right environment to grow, contribute, and do meaningful work. For me, the 8PP model provides exactly that.