Lisa Beale
Why did you choose the law
After completing a Media and Communications Degree, my route into law has been a little unconventional. After accepting a position with a local firm of Solicitors in Warwick as a Legal Secretary I soon discovered my love and aptitude for the law and after being supported to convert my Degree to Law and this has been my career ever since.
Tell us a bit about how you got here
I have specialised in the area of Wills, Trusts and Probate since 2007 starting my career as a Paralegal and then working my way up and qualifying as a Solicitor in 2016. I undertook the Legal Practice Course on a part time basis whilst working full time and graduated in 2009.
I joined the Wills, Trusts and Probate Team at Band Hatton Button in December 2021. Prior to that I was working for a Solihull based firm and before that a Coventry Law Firm.
What does your day job look like
The joy of my job is that I get to help people to get their affairs into good order. I take time to understand what a client wishes to achieve and draft a Will to suit their needs, this could range from something relatively straight forward to a more complex Wills incorporating an Asset Protection Trust.
I also help clients to plan ahead and set up Lasting Powers of Attorney. Where someone does not have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place and they do have capacity then I also have expertise in making Deputyship Applications through the Court of Protection. I regularly deal with the administration of estates of those who have left a Will or died intestate (without a Will) and can advise on post death planning, as necessary.
I pride myself on providing a friendly and approachable service, being able to explain legal terms to clients to help them put their affairs in order and helping to guide clients through what for some can be a very distressing time in their lives.
In 2021 I became a Dementia Friend along with the rest of the Wills, Trusts and Probate team. The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends training programme enables people to understand the condition and it changes the perception people have on dementia. The initiative makes a difference to someone with dementia as it provides others with an insight into how it may affect them.
I am also a fully qualified and accredited member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers previously known as Solicitors for the Elderly. The Association of Lifetime Lawyers is an independent organisation that provides specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.
What do you like to do outside of work
When time permits, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I have taken part in a number of charity walks and enjoy exploring the local countryside on family bike rides. With two very sociable children I often play taxi to their various activities and most weekends I can now be found pitch side watching my daughter in her 7 a side football team.