Obituary: Fiona Stevenson

But the 29-year-old never arrived at law firm Reynolds Dawson where, her employers said, her passion for defending the rights of the weak had been so evident.

Her journey to work that day from her home in the Barbican area of London ended in tragedy on the Circle line near Aldgate.

Miss Stevenson had dreamed of becoming a lawyer ever since she was 14 when she was a grammar school pupil in Chelmsford.

That determination was driven by a strong sense of human injustice which burned brightly within her, according to her boss Colin Reynolds.

"She has been described as articulate, strong-willed, vibrant, energetic, caring, generous and, as her friends and sister always said, she never held a grudge"
Family statement

"Her entire career history was a testament to her dedication to representing those ensnared in the criminal justice system, but unable to defend themselves," he said.

"Fiona was a hard-working, conscientious and supremely able criminal lawyer. The firm will forever be the poorer for her loss.

"Within a small practice her bubbly personality, care and compassion for colleagues, as well as clients, were cherished qualities, which will be sorely missed."

Law ambition

Miss Stevenson was brought up and educated in the Chelmsford area and went to St John's Primary School in Danbury, New Hall School and King Edward's Grammar School in Chelmsford.

She went on to Sussex University before fulfilling her ambition to practise law.

Miss Stevenson started work at specialist criminal law firm Reynolds Dawson in 2003 as an assistant solicitor.

She worked as a duty solicitor in court and police stations, specialising in fraud and extradition.

Unpaid sabbatical

Spurred on by her desire to apply these skills in a different way, Miss Stevenson took a four-month unpaid sabbatical to Belize earlier this year.

As a volunteer for Challenges World Wide, she worked with the government to develop a staff training manual for child care proceedings there.

This opportunity meant she could also indulge her passion for diving, and she completed two qualifications and a dive in the Blue Hole while in Belize.

She also competed in the 180-mile long, Ruta Maya four-day kayak race.

In a statement issued through the police, her parents, Ivan and Emer, of Little Baddow, Essex, and younger sister, Andrea, said she was "irreplaceable".

"She had an infectious laugh"
Oliver Nash

"Fiona always had a strong sense of right and wrong and was passionate about human rights.

"Since the age of 14 she had wanted to be a lawyer and had a long-term ambition to work for the UN so it was no surprise when she qualified in 2000 as a solicitor.

"She has been described as articulate, strong-willed, vibrant, energetic, caring, generous and, as her friends and sister always said, she never held a grudge."

Schoolfriend Oliver Nash, in Sydney, Australia, said: "She was one of the most marvellously relaxed and wonderful people I have ever met.

"She had an infectious laugh whenever she caught the bus to secondary school and she was polite and superb company.

"Even though other friends had seen her more recently, Fiona still asked after her old friends and that made you feel special.

"Fiona will be missed by people across the planet who knew her."