Helen Gott, Director and Head of Wills & Probate Department at Emsleys Solicitors Limited is on the judging panel for the upcoming British Wills and Probate Awards.
In this interview, she discusses what initially sparked her interest in the sector as well as her thoughts on the key challenges faced by the sector at present.
Helen, please could you provide us with an overview of your background and your current role.
I am a solicitor, and Director and Head of the Wills & Probate Department at Emsleys Solicitors Limited. I have been a qualified solicitor for 10 years and have practised exclusively in this area since qualification. Since joining Emsleys Solicitors Limited in January 2016, the department has grown and we have had 100% client satisfaction every month since June 2016. I specialise in the full range of private client services from wills, mental capacity issues, trusts and tax planning and I am also a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and a fully qualified Trust & Estate Practitioner (STEP).
What initially sparked your interest in the sector?
Part of the solicitor’s training requires carrying out work in different departments. During my training, I was placed in the wills and probate team where I knew very quickly that I wished to specialise in this area. For me the area provides the perfect balance of being a very technical area of law but also with the added advantage of having a lot of client contact.
How do you think professionals in the wills and probate sector could improve their service delivery?
There is always room for improvement in the way that we communicate with clients and fellow practitioners. It is also incredibly important to be open and transparent regarding costs which, unfortunately, some professionals still are not particularly clear on.
As a judge of the British Wills & Probate Awards, what will you be looking for in a winner?
I am looking for an all rounder, somebody who can deliver not just on the technical aspects of law but also delivering said legal services in an efficient cost effective manner that works for the clients.
How important do you think it is to recognise achievement in the sector?
I think it is very important to recognise achievement as unlike a lot of areas of law, there is not necessarily much interaction between professionals within the sector. It is therefore important to recognise those who are working very hard and the contribution that they make to the field of wills and probate.
What are the most prominent challenges the industry is facing at present?
One of the major challenges is clients failing to see the value that we as professionals can add to their particular case be it in the drafting of a will or administering an estate. We spend a lot of time sorting cases out where clients have initially had a go themselves because of something they have seen on the internet which hasn’t necessarily transpired to be correct. However, by having good communication and a loyal client base, it is possible to make sure that legal services are delivered in a way which will hopefully mean that there will be a role for practitioners for many years to come!
The British Wills and Probate Awards will take place on the 18th October at The Palms Conservatory, Ardencote, where the winners will be announced and rewarded with a sumptuous gala dinner. There’s plenty of time to enter, and it’s free, so make sure you put your firm forward to be in with a chance of winning!
You can also be part of the awards if you’re looking for a unique way to boost your company’s brand exposure – why not take a look at our sponsorship opportunities – click here to find out more.
