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What was your route into the profession?
My route was fairly traditional, other than for a short detour to study philosophy as an undergraduate. A lawyer relative suggested that, as I would spend the rest of my life practising law, it might be worth taking the opportunity to spend three years studying something else I was interested in. I think philosophy is a great background for law, as it really teaches you to analyse language and logical arguments.
After my PgDL and LPC, I wanted to work at a firm with expertise in private client law but I had no desire to live in London, so Wilsons was a perfect fit. I did my training contract here, qualified into the private client team and have been here ever since!
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
I am lucky enough to not have had too many real challenges in my career, but the first year after my son was born was certainly interesting. I have always been someone who values sleep, so it took some adjustment.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
I'm well aware it's a complete cliché, but I really do love Denning's writing, and his ability to combine legal insight with humanity and practicality. More recently, I have enormously enjoyed the book and blog by The Secret Barrister. He's a barrister working on the criminal circuit in London who writes an anonymous blog about his day-to-day experiences. His writing manages to be both hugely entertaining to read as well as giving insights into the enormous problems facing our justice system.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
As a child who loved spaceships and dinosaurs, my original plan was to be either an astronaut or a paleontologist. More recently, I would want to say a professional chef, as I love both cooking and eating, although I suspect I would struggle with the hours. Lawyers sometimes work long hours but chefs are on a different level entirely! I did consider both cooking and law as a career for a time and I certainly think I made the right decision.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Just to clarify, I am assuming this means ‘the lawyer I enjoy reading or watching’, not the lawyer I think is the best representative of the profession! On that basis, I would have to say Saul from Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul. A fairly terrible human being, but enormously entertaining to watch.
I also have a soft spot for Lionel Hutz from the Simpsons, who I think comfortably wins the award for the most inept fictional lawyer.
What change would you make to the profession?
As something of a tech geek myself, I am really excited about the potential for IT, particularly advancements in AI, machine learning and so on, to help the legal profession. I don't think there will ever be a substitute for an experienced human lawyer, but I think IT can improve the way we work in so many ways. Lots of firms are making progress in this area but I think there's still a lot of untapped potential.
How do you relax?
Given my choice of alternative career, it won't be a surprise that cooking is my standard way to unwind after a busy day. I thoroughly enjoy eating the end results, but I also love the process. I think it's because you can't rush cooking – it forces it to take it at its own pace. If you try to cook a meal in half the time, you usually just end up with a disaster. At a weekend I occasionally try to cook something a bit more ambitious. I was particularly pleased with my rendition of Heston Blumenthal's recipe for bacon and egg ice cream.
My other main choice is playing with my son. It's amazing how half an hour with a four-year old puts all of a day's worries into perspective.
Tim has recently been appointed as an equity partner at Wilsons Solicitors.
