The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 40: Dec/Jan 2018/19 | Page 12

LEGAL
10 Minutes with Bower & Bailey Solicitors
Lauren Webb
01793 610 466
Lauren Webb is a trainee solicitor in the busy Regent Circus office
of Bower & Bailey in Swindon. She joined the law firm in 2017 and is
getting set to qualify as a solicitor in March 2019.
We met with Lauren to find out about her legal journey so far.
Which areas of law have
you trained in?
“I have learnt to appreciate
that the legal world is very
unfamiliar to many people”
A trainee solicitor needs to do
a minimum of three different
seats in both contentious and
non-contentious areas of law
during their training contract.
I have been lucky enough to
spend time working with very
experienced solicitors in Civil
Litigation, Matrimonial and
Family, and Residential and
Commercial Conveyancing.
Whilst I have enjoyed my
time in all my seats, I will be
qualifying into the Matrimonial &
Family department.
Why did you decide to
specialise in divorce law?
I wanted to specialise in an area
of law that was client facing
and where I felt like I could help
someone through a difficult
time.
I also really enjoy attending
court and I look forward to the
opportunity to do more of my
own court advocacy in the future.
What do you like most
about your job?
The legal world is fast paced
and constantly changing and it
is exciting to be a part of that. I
like the fact that no two days at
Bower & Bailey are the same.
Each new client brings a unique
set of circumstances and I enjoy
helping to find the resolution
that works for them. It is very
rewarding knowing that you are
making a positive difference to
someone else’s life, no matter
how small. beginning of what would be
a long process to change the
law but it is a step in the right
direction for many couples
who have amicably separated
and do not want to blame the
other for the breakdown of their
marriage.
The government has
recently launched a
consultation proposing to
remove the need to allege
“fault”, and the right
of spouses to contest a
divorce. Do you think the
laws are likely to change
soon? What has been your
biggest learning in your
career so far?
Under the law as it stands
at the moment, if somebody
wants to separate from their
spouse they either need to
allege unreasonable behaviour,
desertion or adultery or wait for
2 years and do so by consent. If
their spouse does not consent
and they do not want to allege
fault, they would be forced to
wait 5 years.
Debate around the need
for a “no fault” divorce is not
something new but the case of
Owens & Owens last year has
brought a new emphasis for
change and re-ignited the long
standing debate.
The consultation is just the
I have learnt to appreciate
that the legal world is very
unfamiliar to many people
and whether someone
instructs us to act for them
in litigation, conveyancing or
divorce proceedings it can be
an anxious time. So, I feel it
is really important to build a
rapport with clients as soon
as possible so that you have
a working relationship built
on mutual trust and clear and
honest communication.
the seven years I have spent
studying and training.
What do you enjoy
outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my
family and friends and keeping
fit by going to the gym and
working towards gaining my
black belt in karate.
Bower & Bailey is very active
within the local community
and I have been able to use my
passion for health and fitness
to help support local events and
good causes including taking
part in the Lethbridge 10K and
the Ridgeway Run in 2018 and
the Swindon “Pretty Muddy”
Race for Life in 2017 along with
some of my colleagues.
When you qualify will
there be a ceremony?
Yes! Whenever a solicitor
qualifies they are invited to
attend an admission ceremony
at the Law Society in London.
I am really looking forward to
attending with my family who
have been really supportive of
my career choice throughout
Local expert legal advice for you,
your business and your family
• Accident and Injury
Compensation
• Divorce and Children Matters
• Employment issues
• Commercial Property
• Company and Commercial • House Sales, Purchases,
Mortgages
• Consumer and Civil Disputes • Wills and Estates
12 Bower&Bailey_TBE_Swindon_59x210mm_Ad_v3.indd
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018
1
Cambridge House,
4 College Court, Regent Circus,
Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 1PJ
T: 01793 610466
F: 01793 511505
www.bowerandbailey.co.uk
06/11/2015 08:23