Always reliable and accurate, with a good turnaround speed.
Paul Bunting, Partner, Aspinall Wright Solicitors
Laura is Regional Manager for London and the South East and can be contacted on 0845 862 2182 or by e-mail: laura.bennett@johnmhayes.co.uk
Background
I grew up in the vibrant city of Cardiff with my mum, dad and Brother Luke. I studied a Law Degree at Swansea University and then went on to complete the Post Graduate Legal Practice Course at Cardiff Law School. I live with my husband Richard and our son George. Rich and I met when I was 17 at Topshop/Topman Cardiff where we both worked as Saturday sales assistants around our studies. We had a fun filled wedding at Cardiff Marble Hall in September 2015 and our son George made a chaotic arrival in July 2016.
Q1. Tell us how you came to work in legal costs
Following completion of my post graduate studies I worked as a Legal Aid Case Worker for a large legal aid provider in Wales. I was uncertain as to where I wanted to take my career but knew I wanted a challenge. My uncle heard about a trainee position at John M Hayes and forwarded me some details. I sent off an application and following completion of an aptitude test, an interview and 2 day trial I was taken on as a trainee in September 2010 and I’ve never looked back!
Q2. What is your current position with John M Hayes?
I am the London and South East Regional Manager. We have two offices in the South East and I work between them both.
Q3. What do you love about your job?
I love chatting to our clients and the relationship that we have with them. I love that as a company we have a national spread and we work as closely with the teams at other offices as our own. I love that our national spread and the way we operate means we can give clients a better service and access to specialists across the company. I also love the variety the job gives me as some days I will be in one of the offices, some days I will be working in house, some days I will be in meetings and some days I will be working from home. Therefore, each day is never the same.
Q4. What don’t you love about your job?
Sometimes we get really busy and as a result I worry about not hitting our turnaround times as I don’t want to let our clients down.
Q5. What’s been the highlight of your career to date?
I think, being a successful Regional Manager working with so many nice people and meeting Judge Rinder!!
Q6. What keeps you busy outside of the office?
I am a bit of a social butterfly and have lots of friends so my diary is always jam packed with me visiting friends or having guests visit us most weekends. I’m also a girly girl and a bit of a fashionista so I love going shopping especially with my mum and aunties. I love to bake and cook whenever I can. I support a charity called SCIPS (special care infant parent support) which supported me and my family following the birth of my son and me and my husband have raised approx £4,000 for them over the past year.
Q7. What’s your dream job?
I’d love a role in EastEnders. I think that would be very fun although I'm not sure my acting skills are up to much...
Q8. Do you have a ‘can’t miss’ TV programme?
Well like the many it has to be Game of Thrones!!
Q9. What’s your idea of a perfect night out?
I have a few.....
- A nice restaurant and some cocktails followed by some dancing with friends
- A night at the theatre
- A big family get together. I’m at my happiest when all 25 of my family members cram into my Nan’s bungalow for party food and drinks.
- And now that I am a mum just a early night would be great!!!
Q10. Do you have a favorite quote?
I’m unsure if it’s a quote but I do believe in the saying that everything happens for a reason.
Q11. What book would you recommend?
I really enjoy reading autobiographies as I feel like I know the person by the end of the book. But at the moment I am also enjoying thrillers and I am currently reading Good Me Bad Me. The book sees a murder go to trial at the RCJ and I've just got to the point where the trial is about to start....!
Laura and members of the team from London and the South East will be attending the LAPG conference on 6th October alongside our guest speaker, David Smith. We hope to see you there.
Friday 29th September 2017