"The best thing about being a private client lawyer is..."

Today's Wills & Probate Podcast

The Today's Wills and Probate podcast welcome Ian Bond on to discuss the life and times of a private client practitioner in 2023. Ian is a partner in the Lifestyle and Estate Planning Team at Irwin Mitchell having joined in January 2023 and is a vocal advocate for the private client profession.
Recorded in July 2023 Ian shares a little bit about his background and roles at Irwin Mitchell, The Law Society, where alongside his long standing position on the Wills and Equity Committee he also sits on the probate services user group, and provides tutoring for STEP.
Ian reveals that he joined law school with the ambition of being an employment lawyer but soon realised that private client was the right place for him. He says
"The best thing about being a private client lawyer is you never know what you're going to get... you know you make a difference in (people's) lives. They walk away with peace of mind."
Although the podcast was recorded before the announcement of the Competition and Markets Authority investigation into the law pricing of will writing services, the discussion explores costs the issue of balancing costs against client expectations.
The discussion moves on to the impact, and value, of technology; whether that's as a tool for meeting with clients and taking instructions or as an integrated part of the drafting process. Technology is exciting for consumers and the private client industry, says Ian, citing the increasing desire of clients to consume legal services on their terms; in a way that works for them.
The almost inevitable impact of technology is the pressure that pricing comes under as the potential for delivering quicker, more efficient services reduces overheads... however, Ian warns, it's important to be clear about our differentiators. Our ability to get the job done, our experience working on similar matters previously, we can help you achieve these outcomes.
An insightful and entertaining discussion, Ian shares his own thoughts on the direction of travel for private client law in 2023 and beyond.
The Today's Wills and Probate podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider, and at www.todayswillsandprobate.co.uk. Subscribe today to hear all the latest news and views across the wills and probate sector.