Experience

Alsters Kelley Solicitors Limited

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Solicitor (Property - Residential Conveyancing)

  • Oct 2022 - Present

  • Handling own mixed caseload of sales, purchases, transfers of equity, re-mortgages, repayments of help-to-buy loans and equity releases • Currently developing knowledge and technical aspects as and when occurring, receiving one-to-one and group training from Senior Solicitor/Supervisor to aid development • Carrying out completion of ID1 forms, statutory declarations, swears/oaths/affidavits and certifications • Continuing to also carry out most duties of Trainee Solicitor position (as below), but developing a wider technical knowledge of conveyancing



Safeside - West Midlands Fire Service

• United Kingdom
• Public Safety
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Prevention Advocate Volunteer

  • Sep 2022 - Present

  • Supporting West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) to deliver a variety of prevention-based activities in the community • Educating the community on key safety messages linked to fire, road, water, home and personal safety through a variety of activities; including the delivery of safety programmes to specific target groups • Acting as a ‘Safety Advisor’ to deliver the key safety messages to children and young people visiting the educational, life-sized safety village at Safeside in Birmingham • Also assisting fire stations to promote safety messages, by volunteering with WMFS services through open days, community events and local fire safety initiatives



Inshore Support Ltd

• United Kingdom
• Wellness and Fitness Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Support Worker (Bank)

  • May 2022 - Present

  • Delivering a professional service to adults with learning difficulties, challenging behaviour and complex mental illnesses. Member of a team helping them attain personal independence, choice and responsibility. • Pitching strategies, approaches and own tailored techniques to tackle various concerns in regular key worker meetings and service user reviews. • Developing stamina to work long days, completing 14-hour day shifts (7am-9pm) and staying over if paperwork incomplete or extra support needed. • Showing me significance of teamwork, patience and adaptability in pressurised and unpredictable situations/circumstances, enhancing my attention to detail when studying behavioural patterns alongside the complexity of severe autism.



Talbots Law

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Solicitor (Property - Residential Conveyancing)

  • Mar 2022 - May 2022

  • Handled mixed caseload of sales and purchases within the National Panel Conveyancing Department • Used SOS Case Management System • Handled mixed caseload of sales and purchases within the National Panel Conveyancing Department • Used SOS Case Management System



Alsters Kelley Solicitors Limited

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Solicitor (Property - Residential Conveyancing)

  • Sep 2021 - Feb 2022

  • Handled own mixed caseload of sales, purchases, transfers of equity, re-mortgages, repayments of help-to-buy loans and equity releases• Developed knowledge specifically in leasehold conveyancing purchases, along with other technical aspects as and when they occurred, received one-to-one and group training from Senior Solicitor/Supervisor to aid development• Carried out completion of ID1 forms, statutory declarations, swears/oaths/affidavits and certifications• Written blogs on behalf of Firm to aid in advertising/promoting firm’s presence online, e.g. Freehold Rent Charges• Continued to also carry out most duties of Trainee Solicitor position (as below), but developed a wider technical knowledge of conveyancing

• Trainee Solicitor (Property - Residential Conveyancing & exposure to Private Client)

  • Sep 2019 - Aug 2021

  • Handled own caseload of residential sales, purchases, transfers of equity and remortgages• Designated as case management system specialist for Conveyancing Department, dealt with colleague’s queries and trained new starters in the use of the system. Attended advanced training course alongside Directors. Firm also acquired Bonell & Co Solicitors based in Stratford in Jan 2021, I was transferred to this new office to work alongside the previous owner of the acquired Firm and train the whole team in use of the systems, to encourage the development of paperlite files• Active participant in the development of the Firm’s systems and integration of the case management system with other external conveyancing systems. Frequently liaised with Firm’s Software Developer to progress integration. Also visited InfoTrack UK offices in London on behalf of the Directors, to liaise with InfoTrack CEO on future developments of their systems to assist UK conveyancing legal services• Based at Leamington Spa office Sept 2019-Jan 2021 and Stratford office Jan 2021 onwards• Practical Skills Course (PSC) passed between Jan-May 2021, with Altior (by Barbri)• Continued to also carry out most duties of fee earning Paralegal position (as below), but with greater responsibility, working more on own initiative with own files and development of raising own enquiries on contract packs

• Paralegal (Property - Residential Conveyancing)

  • Sep 2018 - Aug 2019

  • Carried out residential conveyancing, assisted with freehold and leasehold sales and purchases (included new builds), transfers of equity, remortgages, grants of new leases and lease extensions• Worked files through the conveyancing process, from providing quotations and took initial instructions, opened paperlite files, applied for searches, replied to enquiries, to preparing pre-contract reports, exchanged contracts and completion, all post exchange and completion work (included preparing completion statements/bills) and closed files• Although no files in own name, had files where I worked on solely with supervision throughout• Had time recording target to monitor and evaluate efficiency• Close interaction with clients provided a personal service. Held daily initial meetings, telephone calls and email communications with clients, most commonly to explain the conveyancing process, deal with replies to enquiries raised and gave regular updates on progress. Alongside effectively managing client expectations• Liaised with other professionals, included estate agents, law firms, Land Registry, mortgage lenders/brokers, management companies/agents and various service providers• Also worked with vulnerable/high risk clients, followed the Firm’s policies and procedures, conducted Risk Assessments, identified potential capacity issues and reported to the Firm’s Compliance Manager• Worked in line with Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and General Data Protection Regulations, whilst organising files to ensure Lexcel compliant and in accordance with Firm’s Manual• Used various IT systems/providers, included Tikit case management system, InfoTrack, Land Registry portal, lender panel portals (e.g. LMS and Lender Exchange), TM Group and the Firm’s own portal• Attended various internal/external training courses, included InfoTrack Hack Day, Natwest Bank and West Midlands Police Fraud Seminar, CQS training courses and kept up-to-date through Vinci Works training system

• Paralegal (Family Care)

  • Jun 2018 - Sep 2018

  • Have own increased fee earning target, focusing particularly on maximising WIP to enable Costing Department to convert into cash, whilst also maintaining high standards of client care.• Handling the cases of an Associate Solicitor, alongside their Legal Secretary.• Dealing directly with any emergencies whilst Solicitor is uncontactable and/or out-of-office.• Dealing with all case invoices and arranging all DNA, drug and alcohol testing.• Approving and amending Statements with clients.• Drafting, reading and summarising documents.• Correcting any file compliancy issues following file reviews and throughout the life of cases.• Ensuring Court timetables are adhered to and assisting in the organisation of this.• Continuing to also carry out most duties of fee earning Legal Secretary position (as below), but with increased responsibility, working more on own initiative and greater case management and client interaction.

• Legal Secretary (Family Care)

  • Aug 2016 - Jun 2018

  • Part-time temp until Nov 2016, then made full-time permanent staff member.• Had own fee earning target since June 2017, but time recorded against other fee earner’s names since joining the Firm.• Worked as part of a 3-member Care Support Team on cases handled by the Head of Department, Solicitors and Chartered Legal Executives.• Attended Court behind Counsel on variety of Hearings throughout Public Law Care Proceedings. Attended Advocates Meetings, Prison legal visits, Residential Units, PLO and Child in Need Meetings and Child Protection Conferences with Solicitors.• Dealt regularly with ‘high risk’/vulnerable clients sometimes lacking capacity to instruct.• Took initial details from new clients in person and via telephone and carried out initial conflict checks. Liaised with clients, Courts, Legal Aid Agency, Local Authorities/Social Workers, Barrister Chambers, other parties to Proceedings and other various professionals/agencies throughout a case. Liaised with Firm’s other Departments when cross-referring clients, particularly Family Private, Crime, Immigration and Private Client.• Drafted various documents e.g. initial letters of instruction to clients, client Statements and Court Applications.• Used ‘CCMS’ Legal Aid Agency Case Management System to allocate Counsel’s Fees, review cost limitations on legal aid certificates, drafting applications to increase costs and amend scope of certificates when necessary and to carry out Merits Assessments.• Updated/maintained diaries, prepared/updated trial bundles, covered reception when required, monitored post, typed dictations, requested cheques/petty cash, organised files to ensure Lexcel compliant and in accordance with Firm’s Manual and completed all other aspects of administrative duties.• Used ‘TFB’ and ‘DPS’ case management systems and ‘Bighand’ dictating system.• Attended various internal/external training courses and kept up-to-date through Vinci Works training system.

• Legal Secretary (Civil Litigation & Employment)

  • Aug 2016 - Nov 2016

  • Part-time temp.• Department also dealt with employment matters and the Firm’s debtors.• Completed similar duties as Family Care Legal Secretary position (as above). In addition, produced private bills to clients and took files through closing process, organised any necessary write-offs and sent to archive.



Citizens Advice

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legal Advisor (Volunteer)

  • Jul 2014 - Aug 2016

  • Certificates showing fully qualified as Gateway Assessor and General Advisor. • Interviewed clients, provided generalist legal advice, investigated client’s situation holistically, negotiated with people such as creditors/service providers, drafted letters/applications/legal documents, made phone calls on clients’ behalf, referred clients to other agencies. • Recorded/updated client case’s on ‘Petra’ case recording system, identified social policy issues and completed evidence forms to positively influence policy development. • Assisted in the promotion of volunteering by appearing in video on CAB website telling ‘my story’. • Volunteered for one day per week. • Witnessed impact of local and national policy, taught me significance of accurate case recording and allowed me to experience practical application of the law.



Inshore Support Ltd

• United Kingdom
• Wellness and Fitness Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Support Worker (Bank)

  • Jan 2012 - Aug 2016

  • Delivered a professional service to adults with learning difficulties, challenging behaviour and complex mental illnesses. Member of a team helping them attain personal independence, choice and responsibility. • Pitched strategies, approaches and own tailored techniques to tackle various concerns in regular key worker meetings and service user reviews. • Developed stamina to work long days, completed 14-hour day shifts (7am-9pm) and stayed over if paperwork incomplete or extra support needed. • Showed me significance of teamwork, patience and adaptability in pressurised and unpredictable situations/circumstances, enhanced my attention to detail when studying behavioural patterns alongside the complexity of severe autism.



Freshwinds

• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legal Compliance Volunteer

  • Oct 2015 - Nov 2015

  • Worked within a team on a project which involved reviewing, interpreting and summarising new/recent legislation which impacted (or may have potentially impacted) both the charitable organisation and the individuals it supported. • Worked primarily on the Equality Act 2010, its statutory guidance notes, commentaries and relevant case law. • Supervised by a non-practising solicitor. • Volunteered for one day per week, over 4-week period. • Worked within a team on a project which involved reviewing, interpreting and summarising new/recent legislation which impacted (or may have potentially impacted) both the charitable organisation and the individuals it supported. • Worked primarily on the Equality Act 2010, its statutory guidance notes, commentaries and relevant case law. • Supervised by a non-practising solicitor. • Volunteered for one day per week, over 4-week period.



Cartwright King Solicitors

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Volunteer (Crown Court Department)

  • Aug 2015 - Sep 2015

  • Worked in Crown Court department in solicitor’s offices, studied CCTV to identify strength of evidence, frequently recorded pros and cons of other case evidence to conclude overall strength of cases. • Wrote various letters and used telephones to liaise with clients, probation, police, prisons and court services, observed client interviews, covered secretarial role, completed administrative duties (e.g. filing and on commencement of each case creating initial physical files). • Observed Director/Solicitor in Oxford Magistrates interview clients and then advocate in court for them, also observed Barrister in Oxford Crown advocate for clients. • Gained experience in using ‘Lawfusion’ case management system, navigated the software to examine clients’ case progress whilst time recording various completed tasks. • Volunteered for one day per week, over 6-week period.



University of Wolverhampton

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Student Mentor (Volunteer)

  • Oct 2013 - Jun 2014

  • Managed and built confidential relationships with final year degree students whilst identifying and responding to their needs through continuous support, from advising on research techniques to encouraging and motivating through job applications and interview preparations. • Sessions on fortnightly basis with assigned mentee were arranged, additional daily support implemented through email, phone and internet video calls. Essential diary management whilst structuring and preparing for meetings. • Taught me the importance of trust/mutual respect and responding flexibly to the needs of clients, strengthened my ability to command respect.



Asda

• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Shop Floor Assistant

  • Jul 2011 - Sep 2012

  • Raised customer satisfaction and fully met customers’ needs whilst maximising sales and reaching targets, by demoing specific products in store and raising awareness of promotions when engaging with the public. • Learned negotiating techniques and capability to resolve disagreements when dealing with customer complaints and unforeseen circumstances. • Allowed me to appreciate the importance of meeting company targets/deadlines and improved my knowledge into operation and functioning of large businesses.



Debenhams

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Sales Advisor/Till Operator

  • Oct 2010 - Jan 2011

  (Similar duties as above) (Similar duties as above)



Woolworths

• South Africa
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Sales Advisor/Till Operator

  • Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

  (Similar duties as above) (Similar duties as above)