As Head of Training and Apprenticeships at Attwells Solicitors, Charlotte Reason is responsible for identifying new talent and helping them to support the law firm’s growth.
She works closely with Total People to support apprentices through their Level 4 and Level 6 conveyancing programmes, so we caught up with her to talk about the experience and the benefits that apprenticeships bring to the firm.
Tell us about your role and day-to-day responsibilities within your organisation.
Atwells has a massive growth plan. We are constantly growing and part of that is bringing in new staff. My involvement is training and inducting new staff. Part of that is getting work experience in school communities as well, trying to get those people through the doors.
Once they’re here, I also then encourage them to get on the apprenticeships. I’m the liaison with all the course providers and I also mentor and supervise the learners throughout. Once they qualify, I help with that transition.
What are the latest talking points in the conveyancing industry?
I would say the changes in legislation, meaning that people have to have more upfront information with property purchases moving forward. This is affecting estate agents, so estate agents are looking for conveyancers to work with them on a solution to this, to provide upfront packs to buyers with more information about their property.
I think this is a good opportunity to work with estate agents and get our feet in the door, get some more relationships with them and try and solve that issue together. It potentially offers opportunities for more staff and apprentices to help build those packs moving forward as well.
What benefits have Attwells seen since taking on conveyancing apprentices?
It’s such a great opportunity to have apprenticeships in the workforce. It's allowed us to maintain our growth plan of bringing in more fee earners.
It's very appealing to young people to be able to study during the working week and have that course funded. So, because it's appealing, you get high calibre people that want to do it. We’ve had a huge number of people apply, which means that we get to select some really good candidates that are really helping our team grow moving forward.
Why did you choose to work with Total People?
It was about having a safe pair of hands that has been doing this for a while, understands the course, understands the apprenticeship funding and is able to support an employer through that. They are the main reasons we selected Total People.
And how have you found the experience of working with Total People?
It’s been very good. What I've found really good is our liaison who helps our apprentices, Emma Hardy. She's very organised and very good at updating us. We have regular contact and this helps me keep up to date with what's going on. It also helps our apprentices to know what's going on and give them that structure so they don't get behind and nothing is a surprise to them. We just feel like everything is in hand and it's safe.
It's also quite flexible in regard to the starting periods. You have regular starters, which means that you can bring on an apprenticeship anytime throughout the year and this works well with the time frame of the employer and the apprentices.
What feedback have you had from the apprentices? How are they finding the experience?
The main things they like are the flexibility of the programme and the fact they’ve got someone guaranteed that they can talk to at least every eight weeks or so. They get support and help through that person and that contact.
Finally, why should someone consider a career in conveyancing?
There are so many reasons why people want to be a property lawyer, I don't think you can answer on behalf of everyone. I can only answer from my own personal experience because I have a property lawyer background; I did it for 7-8 years.
What I like about it is it's very challenging and no one day is the same. You’re always using your brain and thinking about things. You have to be a really good problem solver and quite creative.
It’s just an exciting day-to-day job. It keeps you on your toes.
Total People are experts at training apprentices to become licensed Conveyancers. To find out more about our Level 4 Conveyancing Technician and Level 6 Licenced Conveyancer courses, visit our dedicated property apprenticeships page.
