Meet Tom Travis, Remi Kelly and George Flanders
We are excited to introduce three of our newly qualified Solicitors, Tom Travis, Remi Kelly, and George Flanders, who have recently completed their Training Contracts with Butcher & Barlow. Amy Norman, one of the Firm’s Partners, sat down with them to discuss their journey into law, aspirations, and some fun facts that you might not know about them.
Congratulations on qualifying! I expect it has felt a long time coming. How does it feel to finally reach this milestone?
George: When the pandemic hit whilst at Univeristy, I wondered what effect it might have on my qualification path but I knew I wanted a career in law and maintained hope that it would pan out – and it did!
Remi: Definitely. We were fortunate that the pandemic didn’t impact our progression too much. I graduated in 2019 and joined the Firm as a Paralegal in 2021. Tom graduated in 2020 and George in 2021, and they both started with the Firm as Trainees in 2022. Becoming a Lawyer seemed so far away when I started university, but looking back, the time has really flown by!
What first inspired each of you to pursue a career in law?
Tom: I’ve always enjoyed problem solving and I wanted to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. It gives me a huge sense of pride knowing I have helped clients through challenging situations.
George: I had a similar motivation. I wanted to work in a profession that helps people, and being a Solicitor means guiding clients through both difficult and exciting times in their lives was also drawn to a fast-paced industry where no two days are the same. That’s definitely been my experience so far – there’s such variety, even within the narrow scope of agricultural and commercial property law, and I am never looking at the clock waiting for 5 o’clock!
Remi: My journey started a little differently. I dropped one of my A-Levels and decided to challenge myself with something new, so I picked Law—and I’ve never looked back!
It sounds like a law has lived up to your expectations so far! Do you have a standout positive memory from your career so far?
George: During the Training Contract, you battle strong feelings of imposter syndrome. It’s a great feeling when you finally complete a matter for the first time with little to no assistance. Even if it was a low-value sale of a field, it builds your confidence. It prepares you for more complex cases, like multi-million-pound refinances or agricultural property purchases!
Tom: Qualifying has to be my stand out moment so far – after 7 years of work, with a pandemic thrown in for good measure! Now it’s time to aim for Partnership!
Let’s have a little fun with some quick-fire questions. Ready?
If you could give your 15-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?
George: Prepare, prepare, prepare! Hard works pays off.
Remi: In contrast to George… I’d say “To stop worrying and just trust the process; everything will work out as it should”.
Tom: Invest in BitCoin? Bet on Leicester will win the 2015/16 season? Or perhaps something more sensible like “Try a little harder in your A-Levels!”
You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
George: I’d be the most useful of all – black, because it’s the best to write with.
Remi: Turquoise – it’s my favourite colour and reminds me of the ocean. It has a calming and friendly effect, which I think reflects my personality.
Tom: I’d be a vibrant teal! It’s a mix of blue and green, symbolising calmness and creativity.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
George: Norway to see the Northern Lights in a warm, cosy transparent pod.
Remi: I would love to explore Indonesia and particularly Bali, I want to visit the Sacred Monkey Forrest and the Ceking Rice Terrace.
Tom: Nepal, to trek to Everest Base Camp. And Remi, I may see you in Bali – I’d love to visit and try the surfing there!
How would your friends describe you?
George: Enthusiastic?
Remi: I asked them to answer this one for me, and their response was ‘outgoing, pure and full of positivity’.
Tom: A fantastic darts player who is always up for a pint of Guinness!
Quick fire completed, thank you!
Moving back on to inspiration, who do you admire most in the business world?
Remi: Steven Bartlett. He built a marketing agency from his bedroom in Manchester at 22 and is now a successful businessman.
Tom: Yvon Chouinard, for being a disrupter of business norms and for his lifelong love for the environment
George: I have never really looked up to any businesspeople as role models, but I do have a lot of respect for James Timpson. He was the CEO of The Timpson Group who recruited ex-offenders in order to reduce re-offending, which is a noble cause.
Speak of noble causes, you have all spent time working with voluntary organisations. Can you tell me a little about that?
Tom: Whilst studying I worked pro bono with the CPS and for organisations such as STRIVE, a domestic abuse charity. I also now fundraise where I can, having recently completed the Peak District 100km Ultra-Marathon Challenge to raise money for Young Lives v Cancer.
George: Whilst at Uni I volunteered at the Liverpool Law Clinic , working with an Immigration Solicitor to help a refugee reunite with their family.
Remi: I am currently involved with NESTAC, a local charity tackling violence against women and girls. I am a trained advocate in Female Genital Mutilation.
That’s very commendable and as a Firm we are proud that our Young Lawyers get involved in such causes. To wrap things up, what keys life skills have you learnt during your training that you would pass on to a graduate just starting out?
George: Here is something I picked up from a post on LinkedIn (which is a must for any graduate!). Be a magpie. When you work for different Partners, you pick up on their particular strategies and quirks. Some approaches will work better than others, but you have the opportunity to see each approach in action, how it shapes the client’s perspective and outcome. Once you qualify, you can cherry-pick the best tactics and combine them effectively in order to provide the best advice.
Tom: I have found the most important skills are:
Analytical Skills: Being able to dissect complex legal issues and evaluate different perspectives to form strong arguments.
Negotiation Skills: Gaining experience in negotiating settlements and understanding the importance of compromise in legal situations.
Interpersonal Skills: Building rapport with clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel, which is essential for effective collaboration.