Name: Francesca Mayes Firm: Irwin Mitchell Location: Newcastle University: University of Sheffield Degree: Law
package of care and rehabilitation in place early and help families to get their lives back on track.” One recent example of this has been particularly memorable for Fran. Working with a client who suffered serious injuries after being involved in a car accident at only 18 months’ old, the team was able to obtain a number of early payments, which have contributed to much-needed equipment and building her a new home – before the case has even finished. “Lots of our cases are like that,” she states, “but this has been a particular highlight. Her family was in a very difficult situation, so to be able to make such a difference so quickly has been amazing.” Making the most of every opportunity Naturally, forming close relationships with people is a key element of the job. “It is important that our solicitors are able to interact with people from all areas of the community,” she reflects. “My advice for anyone considering a career in PI is to get out and about and do a bit of work in the community before you start.” Whether through a school programme or a local organisation, community involvement offers invaluable experience. “There is a big, wide world out there and it is important to know a bit about it before you enter the world of PI,” Fran insists. “Lots of universities offer legal clinics where students can get involved with offering legal advice to members of the public and there are lots of community and citizenship projects that young people can get involved with through schools as well.” Making the most of these opportunities can help to develop the inter-personal skills that have been essential to Fran’s success not just in the field of PI, but as a solicitor in general. “You have to be able to connect with people in order to win new business,” she urges. “Whether it is in the field of PI or in the corporate world, you need to
build those links to assure people that you are the best lawyer to help with their legal service needs.” This approachability extends beyond clients, too. Working collaboratively with colleagues and building a network outside the firm are just as important. However, these skills do not come naturally to everyone. “One of the things that I find most challenging is dealing with people who do not want to work collaboratively,” she admits. In those situations, being flexible is essential. “It is important to find a style of communication that fits between you and the person you are working with,” she advises. “You have to appreciate that not everybody might want to work in the same way as you”. In fact, flexibility has been a guiding principle for Fran. “One of the things that you learn in the course of your career is that you have to look for opportunities,” she states. Moving to Newcastle to establish what is now a hugely successful office has enabled her to fulfil many goals, but it has not been without difficulties. “If an opportunity comes along, you have to think flexibly,” she confides. “You have to think ‘is that something I could do and something that I should go for?’. If the answer is yes, you may have to work hard to make it happen.” For Fran, this is key. “Opportunities do not just happen, you have to make them for yourself, and sometimes that requires investing a lot of time and commitment into your career.” “Be true to yourself” In truth, this also requires passion for the role – which Fran has in abundance. “You have to be true to yourself and think about what it is that you find interesting,” she encourages. “Everyone is different, so my advice would be to research and pick the area of law that you might be interested in wisely, because whichever area you practice in, you are going to be doing it for a long time.”
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