We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Hanning - he was one of the 1st to qualify as a Legal Executive Advocate and he specialises in PI, Occupational Stress, Harassment & Bullying. Read and enjoy ....
· You currently work for RWPS LLP in Dorset; how long have you worked there and have you always specialised in Occupational Stress Claims?
I have been with the practice since it started in 2000 as Reynolds Williams (it changed to RWPS when we merged with another local practice and became an LLP in October 2006).
My specialisation in occupational stress claims (more specifically bullying and harassment cases) began with what was said to be a groundbreaking case widely reported back in 2001. This led to me being asked to deal with various similar cases one of which was very widely reported and has so in turn led to more similar cases.
· How did you start in the legal profession?
I more or less 'accidentally' did a Law 'A' level which I found fascinating. I discovered there was such a thing as a Legal Executive and after about a year of searching and thanks to the help of a local specialist legal agency found a post as a trainee. The rest, as they say, is history - of a sort anyway!
· Why an initial interest in PI?
My first principal was a sole practitioner who specialised in crime and family work. It fell to me and a series of assistant solicitors to handle everything else which was mainly conveyancing and personal injury. Both are rewarding in their own ways but I preferred the 'cut and thrust' of litigation and especially enjoyed the fact that in personal injury you are helping the victims of accidents who have a real need.
· How did you get your current job?
Two friends and I were all independently thinking of leaving the firm we worked for and decided to set up our own practice. Perhaps oddly, I've really only had 3 jobs in over 20 years. The first took me about a year to find and meant I had to relocate. My second was back in my 'home' area and was advertised as being for a solicitor but I applied anyway. I thought I had done brilliantly to get the job but it was a peripatetic post between two offices and I later discovered the only other applicant did not drive!
· What would you like to change about your industry?
Make it more accessible and affordable to ordinary people; by ordinary I mean the majority of us who cannot afford the tens of thousands of pounds needed to litigate pretty well anything other than an open and shut case. The Legal Services Act, by allowing the creation of different models of legal practice, provides an opportunity for improvement but care must be taken that this does not lead to compromises in quality. Access to the law should available to everyone but the providers of such services should be properly qualified. The increasing complexity of the law and its process increases the need for qualification and that in itself drives up cost so there is a dichotomy there but one we have to try to resolve.
· Greatest challenge / Most challenging case?
The greatest challenge is time; 48 hours a day would help get everything done. That said, this is probably self-inflicted by my taking on too much and being poor at time management.
In terms of cases, all bullying and harassment cases are challenging especially as the Courts have demonstrated an obvious distaste for them.
· Favourite aspect of your work?
Achieving a good result for a client is what it is all about. As lawyers, we have a special privilege and responsibility to make a beneficial difference in the life of every client and sometimes to many others too by changing or clarifying the application of the law. Succeeding brings a huge amount of satisfaction while failure can be devastating.
My work for ILEX as a Council Member is hugely enjoyable. The perspective is totally different but that sharpens the appetite for 'normal' work. Working with and for the benefit of the membership and being at the cutting edge of developments in the legal profession is both fascinating and hugely rewarding.
· Who do you most admire?
There are far too many to name!
· What would you do, as a career, if you weren’t a Legal Executive Advocate?
I was hopelessly lost when I 'found' law so what would have happened had I not been able to become a lawyer is impossible to say. If I contemplate other areas now, I would lean towards IT, writing, lecturing or professional services; ideally a combination of these.
· Any recommendations for job-seekers looking at a similar career path?
Never give up. It can be a hard slog to find work or achieve the next level of qualification but if you keep working success will come.
I remember a teacher stressing the importance of having the capacity to make choices rather than being forced down a particular road. Of course I ignored that then but in time came to realise how right he was. Obtaining qualifications and experience in as many fields as possible empowers you to choose between different paths and to take advantage of fresh opportunities. The more strings to your bow the better (though I can't help but think archers wouldn't agree with that . . .)
· Previous Jobs:
I had a very chequered job history until I started in law. I spent long periods of time without work and joined what was then called the Youth Opportunities Scheme (with a computer supplier so giving rise to my interest in that field). I also had spells working in a hotel kitchen, as a full time bar person then head waiter in a restaurant as well as (a very poor) photocopier salesman and petrol pump attendant. Lots of 'life experience'!
· What was your new year’s resolution?
I'm afraid I cheated on these some years ago by resolving never again to make any new year's resolutions. It is the only one I've ever kept.
· Interests:
Besides being a superb armchair sportsman I love books and films. I read a lot of science fiction, fantasy and historical novels and can watch pretty well any film though I particularly enjoy the many high quality TV series which are now produced and have a inexplicable soft spot for romantic comedy.
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