Legal Matters Q&A: Internet is both a blessing and a curse for the legal world

What’s the biggest development you have seen in the legal world during your career?

It’s a cliché but the internet. I wasted days of my life as a trainee looking for particular books that had gone missing from the firm’s library.

The internet is a curse as well as a blessing though – an answer may be easy to find but have you asked the right question?

What law would you like to see changed?

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The abolition of National Insurance as a separate entity from income tax. It’s a tax and it’s misleading to think of it otherwise.

What’s the most exciting work you have ever done?

Setting up a trust for a vulnerable person following a national appeal. I was interviewed live on Radio 5.

Who do you admire most in the legal world?

Lord Denning. His opinions were not without controversy but he had a massive impact on English law.

What advice would you give someone starting out in the profession?

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Get as much work experience as you can. The job of a ‘solicitor’ covers a massive variety of work, and the life of a corporate solicitor in the city is totally different from that of a solicitor doing legal aid work. You will have a much better chance of securing a training contract, and doing something that you enjoy, if you find your niche.