Lawrence qualified as a solicitor in the City in 1994 and before founding Equal Justice in 2005, worked as an employment specialist in the private sector (Anthony Gold and Imran Khan & Partners) and in the voluntary sector. In 2001 Lawrence established, and subsequently managed, the London Discrimination Unit. He has lectured in law at London Metropolitan University and Kingston College. He co-authored the employment law chapters in Penguin's New Guide to the Law (2004). His experience in high profile discrimination cases (e.g. Nevres Kemal - the Baby P Whistle-Blower; Amjad Farooq; Colin Cook; Ruby Schembri and Valerie Shelford) means that he frequently appears on television and in various newspapers and has a unique insight into dealing with the media.