About Me

I’m Kristin Heimark and I’m the main contributor to this site. I’ve lived in Stoke Newington since 1997 and I’ve helped people who live here sort out real-life legal messes. I’m a graduate of SOAS and the LSE, was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 2007, and cross-qualified as a Solicitor in 2009.

I’m originally from Nebraska – only because that’s where my father was stationed longest. He was an Air Force officer and while I was growing up, we lived in several US states and in Okinawa, Japan.

After an unremarkable spell at the University of Nebraska, I joined the Navy.

I went to Quartermaster “A” School in Orlando, Florida and learned how to navigate old school style by sextant, azimuth and dead reckoning. I served onboard USS Lexington and qualified as an Aircraft Carrier Helmsman and Quartermaster of the Watch.

As my contract was drawing to a close, the ship’s career counsellor asked me what it would take for me to stay in the Navy. I said, “you’ll have to send me to London” – and they sent me to 7 North Audley Street, Mayfair.

That sounds jammy – and it was.  But I didn’t mention what happened at the beginning of my contract.

Like every new Seaman reporting to their first duty station, I was required to do three months’ “mess cranking”. If you’re on a ship, that means you’re in the galley peeling potatoes. If you’re on shore, as I was, it means you’re cleaning the barracks.

I have no problem paying my dues, earning my stripes. But I met cranks at Ranger Hall who’d been swabbing the deck for over a year. That wasn’t going to happen to me.

Not long after I arrived, and in my first legal moment, I filled out a request chit.

“Respectfully request that on completion of my three months’ mess cranking, I be transferred to Port Services or to sea duty”.

Everyone in my chain of command ticked my request denied – except for the Commanding Officer, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia – who signed it “approved”.

The Third Class Petty Officer who returned my chit to me said, “It doesn’t matter what the CO says, Heimark, you’re staying here”.

I hid that chit on the top shelf of my locker and didn’t mention it again – until my three months were up.

“When am I going to get transferred?”

“You’re not” said the Third Class.

Undeterred, I made an appointment to see the Command Master Chief.

I told Master Chief the story. That I’d been to Quartermaster “A” school, that I’d done my three months and that I was ready to do the job the Navy had trained me to do.

Master Chief was about ready to launch into a discussion about the “needs of the Navy” when I showed him my chit. He took a copy and said he’d get back to me.

Within a week, I was transferred to Dockmaster’s Division of Port Services – where I worked with civilian harbour pilots, guiding Navy ships back into port. They also arranged for me to sail with USS Vulcan’s Navigation Department on a couple of short cruises  – all of which helped me get promoted to Quartermaster Third Class shortly thereafter.

A few years later, I ran into an old friend from Ranger Hall. He laughed and told me he’d been Master Chief’s next appointment. He’d been kept waiting while Master Chief was yelling down the phone:

“I don’t know why the CO went against us on this, but you’ve got to get her out of there – now”!

The moral of that sea story is:

1. Stand up for yourself; and

2. Look after your chit.

Since then, I’ve worked as a legal aid lawyer and I continue to volunteer at the Toynbee Hall Free Legal Advice Centre where I advise on Housing, Landlord & Tenant, Civil Litigation, Contract and Women’s “Domestic” matters.

I’ve seen a lot in my day and thought this might be a good forum for passing along some of my experience of helping regular people sort out their legal problems – as well as a forum for discussing the law generally.

Welcome aboard and please join in the comments!