The new Brethertons CEO reveals he's a great believer in fate
Shaun Jardine is the head of the commercial litigation and commercial recoveries departments, and the newly appointed chief executive officer of Brethertons LLP.
What was your route into the profession?
The usual. A levels and a degree. In my first term at university I was told I had to apply either for the College of Law to be a solicitor or Bar School to be a barrister. I was 18 and had absolutely no idea. I flipped a coin. Heads solicitor. Tails barrister. I am a great believer in fate, the rest is history.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
My current role as CEO, and managing the rapid expansion and growth of Brethertons at a time when the legal services market itself is undergoing significant change. I have a great team, including many partners and senior managers who are not lawyers, they really make a positive difference to the way you run a business.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Mitch Kowalski a Canadian lawyer who wrote Avoiding Extinction: Re imagining Legal Services For the 21st Century. It's a really pithy novel about a law firm that you will want to work for. Read it and build your own firm like it. That's what I hope to do. The book was recommended to me by Simon White a very astute law firm marketer.
One of my junior lawyers recently read the book. She sent me a text and said "I want to work for that firm" ? My reply was "you do already we just haven't finished building it yet"
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
Marketing...I enjoy marketing the business.
I also act as a mediator and unusually enjoy resolving boundary disputes. Boundary disputes are rarely about the land...usually it's unpicking what has caused the individuals to have fallen out.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
"Sausage Lawyers 4 U" , featured in the Viz comic twitter feed. Ask yourself why do people tell lawyer jokes? It's not because people think they are funny. It's because they think they are true. A sad indictment on the profession.
What change would you make to the profession?
Banning lawyers from writing legalese or quoting latin. Clients know we are lawyers...we certainly don't have to sound like one. If you ask a client for "their instructions" , the chances are you haven't advised them what they should do.
How do you relax?
Golf, cycling and cooking—although not all at the same time.
