Background
I joined Slater Heelis in June 2005 as a Trainee Solicitor and I am now Partner in the Family Team and also a Collaborative Lawyer. During my career at Slater Heelis I have had the benefit of working with a team of highly skilled and respected individuals. As part of the growing team of 8 family lawyers, I have superb support from my colleagues, not just in my team but across the firm as a whole.

Career
Having worked for a number of national and multi-national companies across the legal and financial sectors I decided that I wanted to focus on a medium-sized legal practice in which I could develop me legal career. I decided therefore to migrate across the Pennines to Manchester and to train with Slater Heelis.

I joined Slater Heelis in June 2005 as a Trainee Solicitor based in Sale and qualified in 2006. I rapidly progressed and became an Associate with the firm in October 2008. During my career at Slater Heelis I have had the benefit of working with a team of highly skilled and respected individuals. As part of the growing team of 8 family lawyers, I have superb support from my colleagues, not just in my team but across the firm as a whole.

What is life like at Slater Heelis?
After my first week of working at Slater Heelis, I realised that the choice I had made to take up the opportunity of training with the firm was the right one. I was made to feel welcome straight away and it felt as if I had worked with the firm for many months. There is a real team work ethic and everyone takes pride in the work that they do. We do also have lives outside of work and enjoy regular social events, contribute to charitable events and also to the local community in various ways including carrying out pro-bono work in certain circumstances. In addition we also enjoy an annual trip away, with recent trips including visits to Copenhagen and the South of France. I can say without hesitation that I feel very fortunate to work at Slater Heelis; it's a great place to work.

What are your future plans?
The $64M question!!! My long-term aim is to follow in the footsteps of two of my colleagues in the Family Team and apply to become a part-time Judge (Deputy District Judge).

Joined Slater Heelis in 2008
Background - After twenty-seven years with my last firm, where I had progressed from secretary to partner, I found myself spending more time managing the office than actually doing what I qualified to do - practicing law. I was appointed as Deputy District Judge in 2005 hearing civil disputes and financial disputes arising out of divorce. Since November 2010 I have also been authorised to hear Private Children Act cases. I am also a Mediator having trained with SFLA in 1999 and have recently refreshed my training with Resolution. I was attracted to Slater Heelis because of the firm’s excellent reputation, not just with their clients but with fellow practitioners and the judiciary. I also knew that they were a well-run and managed practice, so I knew that I would be able to rely on the management and support teams to get on with running the business, leaving me to concentrate entirely on practicing law.

Career at Slater Heelis - I joined Slater Heelis in March 2008. Originally I was based primarily at the Heaton Moor office but since January 2011 I am now permanently with the rest of the Family Team at the Sale office. Most of my work comes from recommendations and therefore it makes little difference where I am actually based. If for any reason a client cannot get to the Sale office then I am always happy to try to accommodate meetings elsewhere.

What is life like at Slater Heelis?
My move to Slater Heelis was probably the second best career move I have ever made, the first being applying to be a part-time Judge. It’s a pleasure working here because I’ve got all the support I need, while having the freedom to develop my part of the practice as I feel best. The entire family team consists of extremely experienced, competent lawyers and although we all have our own clients, we work together as a team for the benefit of all clients. I’m very proud to be part of what I consider to be an excellent firm offering an excellent service throughout.

What are your future plans?
As a trained mediator, I have arranged to attend on a refresher course with Resolution with a view to building up that side of my practice. My colleague Mark Heptinstall is a trained collaborative lawyer and so the family team as a whole can offer a full all round service to clients. From a personal perspective, I want to enjoy being a lawyer as part of an excellent firm and continue to resolve problems for my clients – which is what I do best!