Consultant and practice manager, Chard, Somerset
I was originally inspired to become interested in the law at a careers convention. I had a one-to-one session with a legal executive who was of very longstanding and spoke about helping people at a time of stress in their lives, particularly when they had suffered a bereavement.
Upon leaving school at 15, it was actually quite easy to get a job of one description or another. I had the option of either becoming an administrative assistant with the Post Office (I never actually found out what that entailed); training in pharmacy with a well-known high street chemist; or becoming an office junior in a solicitors’ firm.
I think I was influenced by my parents as the choice ended up being between training in the law or being involved in pharmacy. At the time, doctors had notoriously poor handwriting and used to handwrite their prescriptions. My parents thought that, sooner or later, if I was a pharmacist I would misread a prescription, which could have dire consequences. So I went into the law instead.
As far as training was concerned, I was given the opportunity of having a half-day release at a local college and attending evening studies to train as a legal executive. In those days you could not become a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives until you were 25, even if you had qualified by examination beforehand.
Once I became a Fellow upon reaching the specified age, I then found a firm that was willing to offer me articles to train as a solicitor but pay me as a legal executive. Many firms at that time only paid a fairly nominal sum to articled clerks, who of course usually had no practical legal background before starting their articles. I was very grateful to Maurice Milford and Peter Dormor of the firm Milford & Dormor in Axminster, Devon, for giving me the opportunity.
'Incredible as it may seem, the office became the first one in the town to have a plain paper copier and ultimately a ‘golf ball’ typewriter. At the time, to have an electric typewriter rather than a manual one was regarded as entering the space age'
I did all my training to become a solicitor on a postal correspondence course long before the availability of webinars or the internet. I was also married and starting a family. To aid my study, a decision was made not to have a television until I qualified. Once I did qualify, I was able to join in all those conversations about what everyone else was watching.
Last year I completed 50 years’ service with Milford & Dormor. I went from articled clerk to senior partner and then became a consultant. I have seen the firm expand in Devon and Somerset. I opened the office in Chard and am still in residence there.
When I started work in a solicitors’ office – in Ilminster, Somerset, in 1964 – it was very different. Although it was a small family firm, one of the partners was very keen on technology. Incredible as it may seem, the office became the first one in the town to have a plain paper copier and ultimately a ‘golf ball’ typewriter. At the time, to have an electric typewriter rather than a manual one was regarded as entering the space age. These were ultimately replaced by word processors.
There have, of course, been enormous changes over the 60 years I have been involved in the law. These relate both to technology and the way that the profession is viewed. Solicitors were regarded as having more status then and the attitude of clients was far less demanding. Also, from a communication point of view emails are both a blessing and a curse.
As far as highlights are concerned, I think I have benefited from working with some very gifted lawyers over the years. I have also enjoyed those times when I have been involved in training and seeing people develop their careers.
Perhaps the best part of being a solicitor is actually meeting people. Although most solicitors have some clients who are a challenge, in general, I have met very interesting people. Hopefully some of the clients I have dealt with over the years will say that I have done my best to ease their burden at difficult times in their life.
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