Carina Kervin is an associate at FBC Manby Bowdler who provide legal services to individuals and businesses across Shropshire, and she is just weeks into her new job.
EXPLAIN A TYPICAL WEEK IN YOUR WORKING LIFE: Meeting clients to provide legal advice such as: preparing wills and powers of attorney; care fee planning; creating and administering trusts and the administration of estates. Also meeting with new contacts so that we can add value to clients and meeting community partners to raise awareness of current legal issues.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW? Inroads by non-legally-qualified will drafters.
AND WHAT ARE THE BIG OPPORTUNITIES? Seeking to preserve assets in cases of care fees and second relationships or for vulnerable individuals, and the provision of legal services for a fixed agreed fee.
HOW DO YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR STAFF? By having an open door policy.
WHAT WAS YOUR LAST MEETING ABOUT, HOW LONG DID IT LAST, AND WAS IT PRODUCTIVE? Volunteering at a local hospice to paint a summer house and liaising with them to allow families an opportunity to freely ask legal questions to help them at a difficult time.
HOW MANY EMAILS DO YOU GET IN A DAY, AND HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE TO READ THEM? I get around 50-100 emails a day all of which I make time to address and prioritise.
DO YOU ANSWER WORK CALLS OR EMAILS AT HOME? WHAT’S THE RIGHT WORK-LIFE BALANCE? I check work emails at home but make a conscious effort to have a cut off time where I stop checking my phone for the evening.
HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DESCRIBE YOU? Approachable and happy to assist wherever I can.
BREXIT – WHAT’S YOUR VIEW OF WHAT IT’S ALL GOING TO MEAN? Brexit brings uncertainty which people find hard to react to. For individuals, questions about their rights abroad are common.
HIGHLIGHTS OR LOWLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR? I generally find that my area of work is a positive area when you can help people to protect themselves and their families. My highlight was assisting a young adult with learning difficulties to prepare powers of attorney so that her family could make decisions for her in cases where she was unable to make decisions herself. It provided her and the family with comfort.
PET HATES? Making hard work for yourself – ensuring you have streamlined services and up to date technology brings better focus and makes life easier.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOME WISE ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Don’t sweat the small stuff. There are lots of stresses in life and you need to pick your battles.
HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK? City breaks and socialising with friends and family.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE SHROPSHIRE BUSINESS COMMUNITY? The support businesses offer one another.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T KNOW: I ran cross country for the county when at school.
YOU CAN TAKE ONE BOOK, ONE FILM AND ONE CD ONTO A DESERT ISLAND – WHAT WOULD THEY BE? A Philippa Gregory book, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Corrine Bailey Rae.
YOUR FIVE DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE? Audrey Hepburn, Winston Churchill, Henry VIII, Emmeline Pankhurst and Stephen Fry.
WHAT WOULD YOU COOK FOR THEM…? Tapas – so there will hopefully be a little something for everyone’s tastes.
