Author Archives: hjs

1. We’re Hiring! Private Client Secretarial Support & Receptionist Positions Available

   May 1, 2024 8:42 am Leave a Comment

   WE’RE HIRING!

   

   PRIVATE CLIENT SECRETARIAL SUPPORT – Albany Street, NEWTON ABBOT, TQ12 2AN

   Do you possess excellent communication, IT, and customer service skills and enjoy working in a team environment?  Perhaps you are just the person we are looking for to join the existing 4-day a week SR support team.

   Due to various internal promotions, we have a vacancy for a Legal Assistant within our busy Private Client team.  You will take varied client enquiries, make appointments as required and ensure we deliver the best experience to our clients – something we pride ourselves on.  As a valued member of our admin support team, you will deal with all aspects of administrative support in the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts, and Probates.  

   Effective admin support ensures that our Solicitors and Paralegals can progress matters from file openings through to completion and closure.  Work is mainly progressed through Diktamen dictations combined with general file management, legal compliance, and working efficiently within our Leap case management system. 

   We need the right candidate for this dedicated team to bring their accurate typing skills, amazing attention to detail, and a high standard of grammar, spelling, and punctuation with them.  The team would benefit further if you were a multi-tasker and who can work to deadlines.  

   Do you have previous legal experience that you could bring to this role, or would you like to make a complete change from your current non-legal position?  Either way, we can provide ongoing SR training to the successful candidate. 

   If you feel this role could be right for you, please forward an up-to-date CV with a covering letter explaining why you want to join SR, to Lindsey McIntyre, HR Manager (lm@scottrichards.co.uk), or alternatively, visit the Indeed link below.  If you have any questions about the role, please do give Lindsey a call on 01626 771194.

   Closing Date: 13th May 2024

   Interview Date: 20th May 2024

   Private Client Secretarial Support – Newton Abbot TQ12 – Indeed.com

   RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE SUPPORT – Newfoundland House, 4 Regent Street, TEIGNMOUTH, TQ14 8SL

   Due to some recent internal promotions, we would like to find a replacement Receptionist / Office Support to join TeamSR, based in our Teignmouth office.

   So, what do we believe that you need to succeed in this role?

   • excellent interpersonal and communication and diplomacy skills
   • a warm, personable telephone manner
   • accurate typing skills
   • a positive can-do attitude
   • willingness to learn
   • the ability to use initiative.
   • a natural flair for supporting their colleagues and taking care of SR clients.

   This is a varied, busy, rewarding role and the role of our receptionists are vital to the ongoing success of SR.  As a bonus, we work 4-days (29 hours), with an allocated day off each week.

   If you feel this role could be right for you, please forward an up-to-date CV with a covering letter explaining why you want to join SR, to Lindsey McIntyre, HR Manager (lm@scottrichards.co.uk), or alternatively, follow the Indeed link below.  If you have any questions about the role, please do give Lindsey a call on 01626 771194.

   Closing Date: Monday 13th May

   Interview Date: Monday 20th May (no other dates available)

   Receptionist / Office Support – Teignmouth TQ14 – Indeed.com

2. Early May Bank Holiday – Closed Mon 6th May

   April 30, 2024 4:29 pm Leave a Comment

   

3. Jamie Completes the London Marathon!

   April 29, 2024 10:41 am Leave a Comment

   Congratulations to our Managing Partner, Jamie Dyson who successfully completed the London Marathon earlier this month, raising a HUGE £9,155.00 for Alzheimer’s Society

   An amazing achievement, and in 3 hours 45 minutes to boot!

   Well done, Jamie! Thank you to everyone who donated to support Jamie’s run.

   

4. Official Announcement – New Partners!

   April 19, 2024 12:10 pm Leave a Comment

   Scott Richards is delighted to welcome James Goode and Alice Darch to the Partnership.

   

   Introducing James & Alice is Partner Solicitor, and Head of Residential Conveyancing, Adam Clinch-Othman:

   “Personally, and as a firm we are thrilled to announce Alice’s and James promotion to join as Partners of Scott Richards. We consider partnership to be a recognition of an individual’s contributions to the firm but also the legal profession as a whole. Becoming a solicitor takes years of hard work, dedication and that deserves huge credit in itself – but then to go that one step further to want and agree to take on additional responsibilities and help the existing Partners shape the future of our long-established firm, that recently celebrated our centenary, is something very exciting, that should be celebrated and an aspect that we are proud to advocate.

   

   Alice joined us from another local law firm in 2021 and from the moment she has stepped to the doors, she has repeatedly demonstrated her expertise and skill in helping our clients move home as well as achieving their objectives in other property matters. Her respected reputation in our area goes hand in hand with her communication skills with our clients. Alice is a truly valued member of our Residential conveyancing team who supports others without hesitation. She is also active in various sub committees organised by the Devon and Somerset Law Society that helps her keeps abreast of issues which impact on our sector and in turn she feeds back to help ensure that we as a firm are on the front foot in terms of the latest trends and developments in our profession.

   I have known James since we were trainees at a previous law firm in Devon pre 2011 – but James had already been able to squeeze in a first career in publishing. On completion of our respective training contracts, as often in life, we followed different paths but kept in touch regularly. Prior to James joining our firm in 2022 he had worked at other law firms and was a self-employed consultant solicitor. James has developed an expertise in complex leasehold work including lease extensions and collective enfranchisement, as well as cultivating a following of property portfolio clients. Every interaction that James has with clients, peers and other members of the legal profession is always handled with his unruffled, calm, genial and professional manner. He has the ability to resolve and navigate complex transactions and help clients identity the crux of the issue quickly.

   

   Both Alice and James’ promotions within the firm are a testament to their work ethic and skill but also a reflection of their respective characters and personalities, displaying I believe already the necessary traits for role as Partner. I have confidence and optimism that they will flourish and excel in these new roles whilst gaining further insight into the business operation side of running a legal practice, a view that I know is shared by our Managing Partner, Jamie Dyson, and Senior Partner, Paul Dyson, and their vision for entrenching Scott Richards continued success for the future. “

   Congratulations both!

   At Scott Richards, we are committed to providing comprehensive legal services in a straightforward and reliable way, whilst maintaining our social and environmental responsibilities. For a first-class service, delivered in a sustainable way, Go Green with Scott Richards Solicitors.

   To book an appointment with James, Alice or any of our team at either our Teignmouth or Newton Abbot offices, call 01626 772 441 or email law@scottrichards.co.uk.

5. Congratulations Lydia!

   April 2, 2024 4:30 pm Leave a Comment

   A well-deserved congratulations to Lydia Foley, who is today officially admitted as a Solicitor!

   

   Lydia graduated from the University of Plymouth with a Degree in Law, before completing her LPC at the University of Law, Exeter. She joined Scott Richards in May 2021 as an assistant, before beginning her two-year training contract, during which she completed seats in the Residential, Private Client and Family departments.

   We’re delighted to announce that Lydia has now officially joined our Residential Conveyancing department, as a fully-qualified Solicitor.

   Lydia said, “I thoroughly enjoyed my Training Contract with Scott Richards. My colleagues went above and beyond to support and guide me through my training seats. I am so pleased to be qualifying as a Solicitor in the Residential Property Department and look forward to many more happy years with TeamSR.”

   Well done, Lydia!

6. Easter Opening Hours & HITS

   March 28, 2024 1:03 pm Leave a Comment

   🐣 Our offices will closed from 5.00pm this afternoon, Thursday 28th March for the Easter weekend, and so we thought we’d sign off with our own Easter bunny, Lucy Hawkins! 🐰

   

   Private Client Paralegal, Lucy, uses her Non-Working Day to volunteer at HITS Foodbank, sorting through incoming donations and creating packs for the families and individuals that the charity supports. Noticing that the charity was low on Easter eggs, Lucy rallied #TeamSR to make a donation, and was delighted to deliver the items collected, to HITS earlier this week.

   What a fantastic way to spend your non-working day, Lucy! 🤩

   

   If you would like to support this fantastic local resource, HITS are open Mon – Fri, 10.00 – 4.00 for donations, or to volunteer*. If you need support from HITS, you can obtain a referral to their services either via the Job Centre, Citizens Advice or through an assigned social worker.

   *Please check bank holiday opening hours on their website.

   #EasterWeekend #4DAYWORKINGWEEK #Tuesdays #TeamSR #GoGreen #SupportLocal #Charity #HITS #Paralegal #SouthDevon #ScottRichardsSolicitors

   

7. Volunteering in Health – Dress Downs in February

   March 22, 2024 2:30 pm Leave a Comment

   Scott Richards are long-term supporters of Volunteering in Health (VIH), a local charity based at Teignmouth Hospital. Indeed, VIH were our chosen charity for our Centenary Ball held in 2022, where we raised over £5,000 for the cause.  The charity offers support to local people in all sorts of ways, including transport services, carer relief, home helpers, befrienders and so on. Their website really is worth a read, for a comprehensive list of the service they offer! Please click here.

   Recently, we had a catch up with the charity and asked how we could continue to support them, and they told us about their pantry at Dawlish Hospital. VIH offer transport services for people in the community who are unable to get to and from medical appointments. They explained that when they are picking up discharged patients from Dawlish Hospital, often the patients don’t have access to essential food and hygiene items at home, and sometimes, they have no clean, comfortable clothing either. VIH therefore stock a small pantry at Dawlish Hospital, from which staff can put together essential care packages for discharged patients. We thought this was a lovely and simple way to support this amazing local resource.

   During the month of February therefore, we held a dress-down day on each Friday, inviting staff to bring in one of the requested items below.

   

   As always, Team SR really stepped up to the challenge, and we are so proud of the amount of items we collected during February.

   Earlier this week, Operations Manager, Hayley-Jane Smithurst and IT Manager, Huw Weatherhead delivered the items to the Dawlish Hospital, and were able to speak with the VIH team. Cara Kinsey, Home from Hospital Link Worker explained that her role involves supporting patients during their stay in hospital, and identifying the areas where they may need support after discharge. She shared the importance of the pantry, both in ensuring patients have hygiene products available during their hospital stay, and in providing them essentials for when they go home. VIH were incredibly grateful for the items collected, and thanked Team SR for the generosity show – we were delighted to help!

   

   Pictured: Huw Weatherhead, SR IT Manager, Cara Kinsey, Home from Hospital Link Worker, Julia Street, General Manager, Helen Thatcher, Deputy Matron and Daren Hale, Healthcare Assistant, with the items donated by Scott Richards Solicitors.

   If you would like to support Volunteering in Health, you can donate here, or alternatively contact the team using the details on their website linked above.

8. National Conveyancing Week 2024

   March 19, 2024 9:59 am Leave a Comment

   

   Monday 11th – Friday 15th March 2024 marked the second annual National Conveyancing Week! The initiative raising the profiles of conveyancers, amongst those associated with the home moving process.

   Our Residential Conveyancing Team took part in online workshops, seminars and networking events, all designed to educate, motivate and reassure those working in the field of conveyancing.

   On Wednesday 13th March, we hosted our second annual Cake, Coffee & Conveyancing Chat – a great way to start our Wednesday!

   

   Thanks to our local estate agents, mortgage advisors and IFAs who came along and helped us raise money for our chosen charity, Alzheimer’s Society.

   Led by our Head of Conveyancing, Adam Clinch-Othman & Solicitor, Alice Darch, our conveyancing team shared changes in legislation, resources provided by #NCW2024 and discussed the roles we all play in the conveyancing process. We also held an online question & answer section, through our Instagram page.

   

   A productive morning & £60 raised for charity! We look forward to 2025’s event.

   Adam’s T Shirt

   

   

   

   

   

9. South Devon College Presentation

   February 6, 2024 3:53 pm Leave a Comment

   

   Solicitor, Thomas Glover recently visited South Devon College to speak to the Law A Level students about what to expect studying Law at university, and what is involved when qualifying as a Solicitor or Barrister.

   Thomas spoke about his experience in the legal profession, starting as an A Level student at South Devon College himself, before attending university in Liverpool, as well as what to expect when leaving Devon! He also discussed being called to the Bar, being admitted as a Solicitor and practising Crime, Property, Civil Litigation and Family Law.

   The experience concluded with a class-wide debate on the Bar Career Aptitude Test questions to demonstrate the skills needed when practicing Law, such as deductive reasoning and persuasion. The students were then asked to apply these skills, by providing examples of interview questions where these skills were tested.

   It was a pleasure to support one of our local colleges, and help their students gain a real understanding of the legal world, and we hope to see some of their talent in practice over the coming years.

   For more information about South Devon College, visit their website: About us – South Devon College

10. Recycled Christmas Decoration Competition

    December 18, 2023 12:37 pm Leave a Comment

    Spreading some festive cheer, with a focus on sustainability, we invited local primary schools in Newton Abbot and Teignmouth to craft a Christmas decoration made entirely from recycled materials. During the festive period, we all know that excess recycling and waste is created, and so we wanted to spark discussion with the children about the ways in which we can all be greener during the festive period.

    We had very few rules for our competition, to really allow the children’s imaginations free reign with their designs, which resulted in some fantastic, creative entries.

    The entries were shared on our Facebook page, where we invited our followers to vote for their favourite. With a £500 prize for the winning school, the competition was fierce, with over 1,600 votes received!

    We’re delighted to share the entries here 💚