Fantastic news for our Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Marcus Crawley has recently been appointed an Associate Solicitor in the Family Law Team, here at Hughes Paddison. With one of the largest Family Departments in Gloucestershire, Marcus is looking forward to helping even more families across the county and beyond, often when they are facing some of life’s toughest challenges.

What does it take to become an Associate at Hughes Paddison, one of Cheltenham’s burgeoning law firms? We caught up with Marcus, who was still brimming with pride and excitement, and here’s what he had to say.

Purpose and Principles

Why did you choose to be a Family Law Solicitor?

I like getting to know and working with people from all walks of life. Being a Family Law Solicitor allows me the opportunity to get to know my clients very well and lets me see the varied ways people organise their lives. More than that though, as a Family Law Solicitor, I have the privilege of helping my clients transition from what can be some of the lowest points in their lives to getting to a point where they feel they can move forward with renewed strength and independence. 

How did you qualify and enter the legal profession?

I studied Law at the University of Leeds. I then went on to complete the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in Leeds, where I achieved a Distinction.
In my final year of university, I ran for a position as a Student Executive officer of Leeds University Union. After a successful campaign, I was elected the Equality & Diversity Officer for the Students’ Union. During that year, I worked hard to improve the lives of our minority students at Leeds University. This is something that I continue to enjoy doing in my role as a Family Law Solicitor. 

Tell us a little bit about your previous experience…

After Law School, I secured a job as a Prison Law paralegal in a firm in Cheltenham. Whilst I knew that I wanted to eventually qualify in Family Law, my role as a Prison Law paralegal gave me the opportunity of having my own case load straight away and to build up valuable experience. 

How did you start your career with Hughes Paddison?

Hughes Paddison were offering training contracts for recent graduates. I was already aware of Hughes Paddison’s excellent reputation and so I decided to apply. 
As soon as I walked through the door, I knew it was the firm for me. I started at the firm as a paralegal in October 2013 before qualifying into Family in September 2016. I initially stared my qualified life as an Assistant Solicitor to our then Head of Family. This gave me the opportunity to work on several complex and interesting, high value cases and further develop my experience. In 2018, I became a stand-alone Solicitor and have since been developing my practice. I am excited to now be progressing further within the firm as an Associate Solicitor.

Living your best life

What’s it like working at Hughes Paddison?

“Hughes Paddison is an amazing place to work. The firm prides itself on championing the individuality of its staff. Whilst the firm has more than doubled in size since I started in 2013, it has managed to retain its “family feel”. Having such wonderful colleagues and clients makes working at Hughes Paddison a real pleasure.”

What’s the best part of your job?

Every case is different and so no two working days are the same. Whilst a career in Family Law has its challenges, it is a privilege to help my clients and see them work through what is often a difficult time in their lives. 

What are your thoughts for the future?

I am extremely proud to have been promoted to the position of Associate Solicitor. From the moment I started at Hughes Paddison, I have known it is the firm for me and so to continue to “climb the ladder” within the firm is very rewarding. I am excited to see what the future holds for both me and the firm. 

What’s it like working in the Family Team?

Our Family Team is one of the largest in Gloucestershire. This means that I have the opportunity of discussing matters and working with colleagues with a vast range of different experiences and styles. This has certainly helped in allowing me to develop my own practice as a Family Solicitor. Beyond the wealth of experience that my colleagues have, I am also very lucky to work with such a wonderful, cheerful group of people. There is not a day that goes by that there is not laughter within the department. 

What are your proudest achievements? 

I am extremely of my recent promotion. In respect of my legal career thus far, I am very proud to have had the opportunity to assist on a case that was heard at the Supreme Court. It was an incredible thrill to experience the workings of the final appeal court in the UK.

What are your hopes for the future? 

Hughes Paddison is a firm that celebrates individuality and excellence. Not only does this make it a wonderful place to work, but it allows us to offer clients a tailored service that goes ‘beyond the basic’. I believe that my recent promotion shows that the firm is looking to the future. Despite the current uncertainties in the world, it shows that the firm is confident of its place in the local market, and I am excited to continue helping support the firm going forward.

Everyone at Hughes Paddison couldn’t be happier for Marcus’ well-earned success. We hope he goes from strength to strength, and continues to bring his enthusiasm, tenacity and joie de vivre to everything he does.