DID you hear the one about the lawyer who decided to try her hand at stand-up?

Employment law specialist Kate Booth hopes to raise lots of laughs – and lots of cash for Comic Relief – by taking part in Stand Up If Your Dare, a national comedy competition.

First, she has to deliver a two-minute routine to competition judges and shoppers tomorrow at Bradford’s Kirkgate Shopping Centre.

If she passes the test, Kate will take to the stage at Verve in Leeds, a bar which bills itself as the “lowest rung of the comedy ladder”.

Winners there will be invited to attend a comedy workshop next Thursday at BBC Radio Sheffield, when the ultimate winner will land a gig before a capacity audience at Sheffield City Hall on March 12.

In preparation for her appearance in Bradford, Kate tried out her latest routines on colleagues at Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith.

At the same time, members of the audience were able to sample some sumptuous cakes in exchange for a donation to Comic Relief.

Kate, who lives at Slaithwaite, studied law at Newcastle University and completed her legal practice course at the College of Law in York.

After training at a law firm in Sheffield and Leeds, she joined Eaton Smith almost three years ago, specialising in employment law.

Kate decided to enter the comedy competition after proving a hit when she delivered the firm’s Christmas party speech two years ago – an Eaton Smith tradition means the speech has to be delivered by the newest recruit.

Kate also likes to inject a little humour into her PowerPoint presentations.

Kate describes her act as “story-telling” saying: “I don’t think I could just stand there and tell jokes or reel off a string of one-liners. I base it on things that have happened to me or things I’ve thought about.”

One routine recounts the “disasters” that ensue after Kate hires a Toyota Prius City Car in Huddersfield town centre, while another is based on a friend who wants to be a “pet psychic”. A third routine muses on what would happen if Willy Wonka decided to open his chocolate factory in 2013.

“I watch a lot of comedy,” said Kate. “I like Eddie Izzard, whose comedy is a bit surreal. He doesn’t swear a lot or talk about his personal life. I also like Lee Mack and Sean Lock. They’re so quick-witted.”

Kate admits to feeling nervous about the competition, but says: “I’ve committed myself to doing it and it’s too late to back out. I’m going to give it my best shot.”

She said: “It seemed a really good idea when I agreed to take part a long time ago! Now it’s a bit nerve-wracking. But it’s nice to do something so different from the day job.

“In employment law, you are dealing with life every day. Like life, some of it is serious, sad and difficult, but sometimes it can be very funny.

“And it’s all in a good cause. I’ve done sponsored runs for charity before, but I’ve raised a lot more money a lot more quickly with this because it’s something different.”

Kate added: “Everyone at Eaton Smith has been really supportive and so have my clients, some of whom have donated money.

“I hope people will be happy whatever happens – even if it’s just imagining me standing outside Poundland in Bradford making a complete fool of myself and dying of embarrassment!”

To make a donation, go to http://my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/andreakatebooth