Melanie Carroll, a partner in London-based Bolt Burdon solicitors, shares some of the details of her working week.
Monday
Every week, my first job is to look at the client matters I’ve got on. I check the status reports and decide on what action I’m going to take, for the rest of the week, and schedule that in so it doesn’t get overlooked. Bolt Burdon is all about client service and our aim is to exceed expectations. We have an understanding that we contact all our clients once a week, so this is a really important start for me and the ‘foundations’, so to speak.
Later, we had a ‘lunch and learn’ session – we host lots of these. The residential property team watched a webinar about historic buildings and conservation areas. The firm put on a lunch and we had a discussion for about an hour about how to put the knowledge into practice. Monday evening? I was at the House of Commons for the Equity Release Council’s summer drinks reception, of course.
Tuesday
Every month I have a ‘one-to-one’ session with each member of my team. I ask them what’s on their mind and we resolve problems and I act as a bit of a trouble shooter and fixer. Today was Krupa, who is also interested and experienced in equity release, and we had a discussion about the report I have prepared for clients. We worked together to try and improve that, and enhance the client experience. We focused on wills and powers of attorney and getting client’s ‘houses in order’ – literally!
After work I had a personal best at the gym – my quickest ever 5km run! Whilst my pace may be pedestrian to the likes of Laura Muir, for a middle aged and busy mum, I think I did pretty well! Sport has always been a huge part of my life (county hockey, athletics and gymnastics in particular) and although much of my involvement in sport nowadays is as a spectator as opposed to a participant, it still ranks as really important. I have long believed that a ‘healthy body leads to a healthy mind’ and using up energy is the only way I can guarantee a good night’s sleep!
Wednesday
On Wednesdays, the whole firm gets together to talk about news and developments. The big news this week was Endure 24, which describes itself as “Glastonbury for runners”. We had a team of runners take part doing five mile laps for 24 hours, day and night. I didn’t go because I was at a wedding, but we watched some videos of people running with head torches and having marshmallows by a campfire. It was a celebration of the team. They did really well.
I also spoke to Michael Culver, who is another one of the partners at Bolt Burdon. He has just been appointed as the Chairman of the Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE). I’m keen to make sure the SFE is fully aware of what equity release can offer because Michael indicated that there is some nervousness about equity release from within the organisation. There perhaps needs to be an education piece, so I’m hoping to join those dots, and soon.
If solicitors are going to be serious about doing this type of work they must be a member of the Equity Release Council. When I joined Bolt Burdon, in January, one of my first priorities was to join the Council again. I’m also hoping to be able to contribute to the work on the Council’s competency framework for lawyers. Currently, any law firm can do equity release work and there are many firms ‘dabbling’ in this, and not doing it particularly well. Being a member of the Council and having the right competency framework will bring confidence to the market and create a trusted community. This is more than a ‘tick box’ exercise….
Thursday
I had lunch with an estate agent to talk about the market generally, if Brexit is affecting it, and just to get a feel for what is going on in the local area. The mood was a little subdued, as one would expect but there are still deals to be done. There is a fragility to the market resulting from the current political and economic uncertainty. Whenever I meet an agent I always tell them they need to come to us if their clients mention equity release. The agents don’t always know what to do, but we certainly do. It’s important for me to raise our profile in this area.
I also had a conference call with the Law Society to talk about property logbooks. This is an initiative to provide information ‘up front’ to buyers so that he/she/they can make a more educated decision as to whether to buy the property, at what price and on what terms. Transactions do fall through and this is exceptionally stressful for clients, particularly if the transaction is on the verge of exchange of contracts. It’s not great for lawyers either!
Friday
Fridays are usually a chaotic day for property lawyers with completions a plenty, and efforts to get exchanges through before the weekend. However, for me, the working week always ends the same way – a Friday night kitchen disco. This is when dad Neil, daughter Darcy (8), and Pepper the Cockerpoo puppy (8 months) get together to start the weekend. It involves a glitter ball, some Bluetooth microphones, lots of music, dreadful singing, slightly less dreadful dancing and a glass of wine. We cut loose, throw some shapes and have a happy end to the week, as we do every week.
I would usually get home and be buzzing around doing jobs but, on Fridays, I walk in and just throw my bag on the floor (which is very much against everything I stand for) and we just get the music on. First choice tonight? Calvin Harris and Rag n Bone Man, Giants. That’s a pretty good song to get the party and the weekend started.
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