Valerie Vaz was elected as MP for Walsall South in May 2010.  She is a qualified solicitor and worked as a lawyer in local government in London Boroughs. She set up a community law firm Townsend Vaz and sat as a Deputy District Judge. In 2001 she joined the Government Legal Service and has worked at the Treasury Solicitors Department and the Ministry of Justice.   From 1986-1990 Valerie was a Councillor in the London Borough of Ealing and was Deputy Leader in 1988-1989.   In addition she is a school governor and member of a health authority. Her brother is Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East.