Elevate, a new event for women in business
The Story Behind ELEVATE: Meet Co-Founder, Vincents’ Lisa Lodge
As ELEVATE, a brand-new event for women in business, prepares to launch, we spent time with co-founder and Vincents Solicitors’ Director and Private Client Lead, Lisa Lodge. In this honest interview, Lisa shares her inspiration behind the event, and the story that sits behind her own journey.
It’s a story shaped by resilience, determination, and a belief that opportunity often begins with a simple question.
Lisa didn’t follow a traditional path into law. As a single parent, she chose to take a Law Conversion course, driven by a clear sense of direction and a willingness to create her own opportunities. What followed was a period of writing to countless law firms, hundreds of letters, each one an attempt to open a door.
And then, one moment changed everything.
As a single parent money was getting tight, she needed a job urgently to keep herself and her young son afloat financially. She applied for a job in a supermarket and after attending the interview, she was told she was unlikely to get the role, she was, in their words, too qualified. As she left, she noticed a law firm directly opposite. On instinct, she walked in and asked if they had any training contracts available.
They had just let a trainee go.
Lisa asked to speak to the partner. He came down to meet her. They chatted. She got the traineeship.
And that was the beginning.
Her early career started in criminal law before evolving across different areas including civil litigation and personal injury, taking her to different parts of the UK. After a career break, she joined Vincents Solicitors in 2015, where she quickly established herself, growing the Garstang office and progressing to Director.
As Lisa reflects on her journey, she speaks about the early messages from childhood that have stayed with her, shaping both her determination and her outlook.
“There’s something that’s stayed with me from childhood,” she reflects. “Everyone is the same. Someone like Richard Branson is no different, they’ve just asked the questions, taken the chances, and created something. I’ve never been frightened to pick up the phone. Or ask questions. We’re all just people.”
That belief has shaped not only her career, but how she connects with others.
“I always walk away from events remembering something interesting about someone, not what they do or what they sell.”
It’s this thinking that sits at the heart of ELEVATE.
For Lisa, success has never been a fixed idea. Early in her career, it was about securing a training contract and qualifying as a solicitor. Today, it looks different.