Richard Thornton is a Caerphilly based residential conveyancing specialist held in high esteem both within Howells and in the local conveyancing industry. He helps people in all areas of residential conveyancing, from transfers of equity to re-mortgages and everything in between.
Get to know Richard a little bit better by reading our interview, below.
Where Were you Born and When Did You Qualify?
A proud Cumbrian, I began my legal career in a law firm in Cumbria as a secretary/audio typist. At the time I was unsure as to the career pathway I wanted to take, but I became more interested in law and started studying whilst working.
I moved to Wales for personal reasons in 2000, and joined Howells when the company was still relatively new. Working with one of the then company directors, I was a key member of the residential conveyancing department of our Cardiff office.
I continued to study toward my professional qualifications, and in 2004, I qualified as a licenced conveyancer.
What’s Something in Your Job That You’re Proud of Having Done?
I worked in Howells’ Cardiff office until I moved to Caerphilly in 2010, where I successfully grew and developed my own residential conveyancing team. This helped Howells meet the high demand for the residential conveyancing process during the residential property boom of the early 2000s.
During this period, I also gained valuable experience in the specialist area of new build conveyancing where property purchasers buy residential properties from new home builders. Due to the fact they are newly built, the legal conveyancing process involved is different to those undertaken when buying or selling an existing property.
What Are Your Career Ambitions?
Since being based in our Caerphilly office, I am now the senior member of a close knit, friendly conveyancing team who work closely with an extensive network of local estate agents, mortgage brokers and returning clients in and around the Caerphilly area.
Our Caerphilly residential conveyancing team has grown in size to now include four fee earners and three legal assistants, and we are now creating additional roles to manage the demand for our legal services.
What Advice Would You Give to Someone Looking to Work in Conveyancing?
You do not necessarily have to be a law graduate to enjoy a successful career in this industry. I was unsure what I wanted to do and benefitted from taking the work-based learning approach. There are now far more options available to others in a similar situation to me and Howells welcome and encourage those who would prefer to enter the industry and learn whilst working.
Are You Buying or Selling a Residential Property?
Get in touch with one of our residential conveyancing solicitors in Cardiff, like Richard, to find out more about our award-winning conveyancing services.
Are you interested in a legal career at Howells?
Get in touch to find out more about the exciting legal opportunities we have created in all five of our South Wales offices. Visit our recruitment page to find out more.
