Karen Middleton is an Associate and Licenced Conveyancer in our Residential Conveyancing team in Rugby. We caught up with her to get an insight into her role and her time at Brethertons.
1. What are the key priorities in your role?
Dealing with the complex parts of Conveyancing transactions, including investigating titles for new builds, leaseholds and shared ownership properties. I also help develop the skills and knowledge of my colleagues with training and mentoring.
2. What aspects of your role do you most enjoy?
Proving the best service I can for our clients. Moving house is a particularly stressful time. I enjoy helping our clients through the process by giving advice in easy to understand language and being available for any questions and queries that they may have along the way.
3. What aspects of your role challenge you?
Juggling the need to be thorough whilst being conscious of the time constraints of each particular transaction.
4. What aspects of your work do you find most interesting?
Learning something new. Whilst most people think that Conveyancing is a simple area of law, no two properties are the same and the law is always changing. I often come across something new to research and learn.
5. What support do you have in the firm and in your team?
The Conveyancing team is a big team made up of all different levels of skill sets, ranging from very experienced solicitors to thorough legal assistants. We all have an important role in the Conveyancing process and roles are clearly defined so each element of the process can be managed by the right person in the team.
6. How have you developed in your role since you started in it?
As a member of the Practice Area Management Forum (PAMF), I work with my Director of Legal Services (DOLS) and Head of Practice Area (HOPA) on the strategic direction of the team and how the Conveyancing team fits into the structure of the firm as a whole.
7. Where do you see your career/skills/knowledge developing at Brethertons?
I would like to continue dealing with more complicated residential property transactions, growing my knowledge in new areas, such as Equity Release.
8. What do you enjoy most about the firm and our structure?
Having clear Key Result Areas (KRAs) helps define how to manage my time between my technical work, finance and risk, business development and helping my colleagues.
9. If someone is considering applying for an Associate role at Brethertons, is there anything you would like to share with them?
The application process is comprehensive. Each of our KRAs will need consideration and practical examples of the use of these KRAs will help. Whilst the form may look daunting, it demonstrates the structure of the firm and where the new candidate will fit into that structure, with clear targets on how to achieve rewards and how to progress upwards in the firm.
If you are interested in hearing about Associate (TS) opportunities at Brethertons, please have a look at our vacancies page or get in touch with David Langstone.
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