Consultancy for Legal Advisors

For law firms and those who undertake Estate Planning

Do you really want to be a private client lawyer?

Why not speak to someone who is now outside of the profession and set about this project with all the knowledge you need of the do’s and don’ts so that you can ensure it will be a success for you.

We provide:

An overview on the skills, character and ethos required for the role.

What clients expect from you.

What you can expect from your clients.

What you can expect from your employers.

How to deliver an overall exceptional quality service.

How to manage the roles you have (lawyer, client personal consultant, manager of your secretary/paralegal team, the role you have within a Private Client Department, etc)

What tools and practical skills you will need to work efficiently.

How to develop a caseload.

How to properly manage a large caseload

Specifically, what are the primary products and services required from a Private Client lawyer to fully satisfy the legal needs of your clients. How do you go about conveying the uses and benefits of those products, and when to do so.

How can you develop your own connections with other professionals?

Do you want to improve your performance as a private client lawyer?

How can you improve efficiency of working?

How can you improve your motivation?

How can you better convey your ideas to your clients?

How can you ensure that you, your firm and your clients value your time and expertise?

How you can better harmonise your methods of working with those of your team/organisation?

As a Manager – do you want to develop your private client team to be a success?

Courses for owners, strategists and managers wanting to better manage their Private Client department.

Are you a new Head of Private Client Department, or a would-be Head of Department?

Are you a law-firm partner/shareholder who wishes to develop a better functioning Private Client department?

Are you finding it difficult to harmonise your Private Client lawyers so that they cease to be “islands” unto themselves but instead focus on improving their way of working so they form part of a cohesive operating team under the same brand and ethos in line with the firm’s mission?

If you are any of these: we can

  • Help you to convey your mission to your team or individual members;
  • Assist you in providing ideas and solutions to problems of change management;
  • Specifically discuss your products and services; discuss your charging structure, ensuring that you have all the tools, products and services that should be offered, and at the right price for you and your clients.
  • Train, educate, help and support your team and individuals – outside training often carries a better success rate than trying to educate from within.

If you are a

  • Private Client lawyer – young or experienced; or a
  • Head of Private Client Department; or a
  • Owner/partner/director of a law firm wishing to improve performance in your Private Client Department;

Then give Robert a try. Have a first meeting or discussion at our cost so that we can understand your needs and wishes, and you can get a feel for the assistance that Robert can provide you. Once we have a first discussion, Robert can set out a suggested plan for how he can further assist you.

What do we do?

Give further education: all of the do’s and do-nots that do not appear on the Legal Practice courses.

We can help you with performance management of previously ‘under-performing’ lawyers.

From the horse’s mouth

From Robert Cartmell, who has practised as a specialist Private Client lawyer, conducting over 5,000 Wills, trusts, LPAs, who was appointed trustee and executor for over 1000 cases.   Robert practised as a private client solicitor from 1996 to 2018. He was a solicitor, then partner, then senior partner at a 3 partnered-firm for 6 years before setting up a high street solicitors’ practice in 2013 based around his expertise in building a private client department. From 2013-2018, Rob as sole director and shareholder grew from 1 person at one small office to 28 people spanning 3 offices before selling to lawyers he had trained to take over from him.

Robert prides himself on having had experience in legal roles within the legal team within a solicitors’ organisation;

Initially as a clerk, then paralegal to trainee solicitor, then as qualified solicitor, partner, senior partner, consultant, and sole owner-director of a new practice and growing to 3 offices and 30 staff.

Having worked in all the roles, from the bottom to the top– gives Robert the edge in understanding the needs, drives and requirements for each kind of role in the company. He knows what it takes to be successful.

For law firms

We can come to your office(s) or we can offer our service remotely.

We provide clear, bespoke training for any and all members of your legal and support team.

Primarily, our assistance is aimed at High Street small-medium sized practices with a private client department or those with a willingness to develop a successful private client department.

If you would like to talk to Robert Cartmell about any of our services please get in touch

Testimonials

Robert Cartmell is always grateful for the comments and feedback from clients as well as professional contacts and advisors. This helps us maintain a high level performance and strive to constantly improve what we do for you.

Positive news

Dear Rob,

Thank you for your detailed reply, updating me on various matters.  It is good to hear the positive news about the inheritance tax and probate application…

Kind Regards, and with appreciation,

KM

Complicated issue summarised so clearly

Dear Rob

It is so helpful to have such a complicated issue summarised so clearly.  Thank you very much…

Thank you for your dedication to this, Rob.  It is much appreciated.

With best wishes

SS.

Efficient manner

Rob thanks for all your advice in sorting out our Wills and Memorandum of wishes in an efficient manner.
We will no doubt be in touch in the not too distant future.
Regards.
DF

Prepared to go the extra mile

Dear Rob

Thank you so much for your email today and your very very kind help. I’ll always be grateful to you for your advice and that you were prepared to go the extra mile – meant a lot, thank you.

My best wishes

M

Memorandum of Wishes – Perfect

Robert ,

Memorandum of Wishes – Perfect – exactly as I wanted to protect the family

Regards

GB

Diligent work

May I take this opportunity to thank you for the diligent work that you are all doing for me.  The emails between yourselves, updating me on the various matters are also much appreciated.

With Kind Regards,

KM

Dealing Promptly

Dear Rob

Thank you for dealing with this so promptly.  Very much appreciated.

With best wishes

SS

Support

Dear Rob,

Thank you for your email and update, and as always for your support.

With Kind Regards,

KM

Good, productive meeting

Dear Rob

Thank you very much for this.  It was a good, productive meeting yesterday and I am glad we managed to cover everything in one shot.  Thank you for hosting.

With best wishes

SS.

Quick

Hi Jane ,

Good grief that was quick , I hope Rob appreciates your efficiency !! Thanks very much ….

Take care and I’ll look  forward to hearing from Rob on his return

All the best

DF

Responding promptly

Hi Jane,

Thank you so much for responding so promptly.  I hugely appreciate  your involvement this far and advice. .  Thank you again, and if further assistance is required I will be in touch.

Best regards

KKD

Prompt attention

Thank you so much to you both for your very prompt attention to this matter, it is much appreciated as well as being very efficient !

Wishing you all the best.

Kind regads

DF

You are wonderful

Hi Rob

Many many thanks for this – you are wonderful – I wish I’d met you years ago!!

I really appreciate your help on this one as I have been getting stressed about it.

Best wishes

VS

Many thanks

Dear Rob

Many thanks for all of this.

I am in agreement with all proposals.

With many thanks, as always for all your wise advice

CS

That’s really helpful and clear

Rob,

That’s really helpful and clear, thank you ever so much and thank you also for pulling all the drafts together.

I really appreciate your advice on my parents’ situation.

Best wishes for now

JC.

Thanks Rob for your speedy response

Thanks Rob for your speedy response.

You are a star.

Best wishes

TH

Brilliant Response

Hi, Rob

Brilliant response!

Thanks

SS

Thank you very much for keeping me updated

Hi Rob,

Thank you very much for keeping me updated. I really appreciate it.

SG

Excellent letter

Hi Rob

Thank you for your e mails. I confirm that it is indeed an excellent letter covering a variety of complex areas.

Kind wishes

TH

Thank you for coming to see us today

Dear Rob

Thank you for coming to see us today and thank you so much for helping me with this situation, I appreciate it very much.

I look forward to seeing you soon and once again, many thanks for your help and support.

FI

Thank you so very much for your time and support

Dear Rob

Thank you so much for your time and support in getting us to this point. We appreciate your efforts very much.… If there is anything further you need from us please let me know.

Thank you once again.

AC

Thanks

Hi Rob,

I’m good thank you, hope you are too.

Thanks for getting in touch Rob, and thanks so much for helping them both get something right for their needs.

CC

Thanks Rob

“Thanks Rob,

Was really good to meet with you – you really are a breath of fresh air”.

TH

Glad you are back in action

“just to say I’m so glad you are back in action as the thought of finding another trustee … and other solicitors … wasn’t something I was looking forward to doing”.

SR

Thank you

“Dear Rob,

Thank you for taking the time to meet me at our offices.  It was a pleasure to meet you and learn more about your expertise.  It is reassuring to learn to that you be looking after Alison’s affairs especially how best to address the sale of the business and premises”.

SR

Thank you

“Good morning Robert

Thank you for managing this, I am relieved that we have a result”.

ML

Thank you

“Hi, Rob

Thank you very much for this.  What a lucky girl I am to have such a good team behind me at last”.

SS

It was a real pleasure to meet you

“Hi Rob,

It was a real pleasure to meet you (not just saying that it really was), It is rare to meet someone who is as passionate about estate planning as you are and really look forward to working with you”.

CS

Brilliant – thank you

“Brilliant – thank you”

PB

So clear, very refreshing

Hi Rob,

“Thanks for your e mail – you are so clear, very refreshing”.

TH

Very happy thank you

“Hi Rob,

Very happy thank you with everything you have done, feel allot happier now I have done it. Already recommending your services”.

MB

Thank you

“Thank you for your support Rob – much appreciated”.

AB

Many thanks

“Dear Robert,

Many thanks to you for your patient explanations of all the intricacies of wills. We are very grateful to you. My wife in particular will be happy to have the wills sorted out.”

JM

Thank you Rob

“Thank you Rob that’s brilliant, and really appreciate the swift reply”.

CL

Absolutely brilliant, Rob

Absolutely brilliant, Rob.  Sock it to them!

SS

Thorough response …

“Many thanks for your quick and thorough response.”

TJ

Thank you …

“Thank you for handling this & treating my mum with care.”

YP

Much appreciated …

“Hi, Rob!  Thanks for your comprehensive e-mail – much appreciated!”

PW & DW

I just wanted to say a big thank you …

“I just wanted to say a big thank you to you for dealing with this all and getting it done so quickly and professionally.”

TJ

Thank you so much ….

“Thank you so much for your help and explanations.”

JR