Obituary: Joe Bateman

Joe Bateman, who established his own firm Batemans Solicitors, died on 28 December, aged 80.

Born in 1944, Joe attended St Benedict’s School in Ealing, London, where he achieved his A-levels aged 16. Following the unexpected death of his father when Joe was aged 15, he took up an offer of a job through the Catenian Association as an articled clerk, starting with John Hoy straight from school in 1961. He progressed swiftly here and was running the Kilburn office by age 18, completed his qualifications in Manchester, and was admitted on to the roll on 1 July 1967.

He set up Batemans Solicitors that same day at the age of just 22. Initially operating out of his mother’s front room with his grandmother as his receptionist, the office was later moved to Harlesden in London before settling in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire in 1986.

Batemans Solicitors is a traditional high street practice and throughout his career Joe advised on housing, family matters and, in the early years, criminal law. More recently he had established a thriving conveyancing and probate business. Joe strongly believed in the importance of offering a breadth of legal expertise to clients - considering this is what a family practice should be about.

Joe was also a committed supporter of the local communities he worked in. As a young lawyer he provided pro bono work to a local housing charity and supported his local community in Bovingdon and Chipperfield to get permission for a Catholic church to be built to service the local congregation. A church he remained a key member of up until his death.

Over his 50-plus years in the profession, Joe witnessed a lot of changes in the practice of law but he always thrived on the intellectual challenge. He was a strong supporter of the profession remaining accessible to all, believing that legal expertise should benefit clients from all backgrounds.

He retired in 2021 aged 78, serving as a lawyer for almost 54 years. He is survived by his wife, eight children, 16 grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters.