My Life in Business: Anna Phillips, Property Litigation
Name: Anna Phillips.
Age: 29 years
Position: Associate specialising in Property and Construction Litigation with Exeter law firm Foot Anstey and Chairman of the National Association of Women in Property Devon and Cornwall satellite branch.
My First Job
At 14 I was a waitress at what is now The Mill at Avonwick and was paid £2.50 per hour. My journey to work was down an old Devon lane, often in the dark. On one occasion, in the pitch black, I heard a strange noise and thinking that I was likely to be accosted by a late night reveller I dived into a hedgerow only to discover that my assailant was a large badger noisily going about his business!
My Career
I later went on to work as a life guard in Dartmouth and after completing a degree in History and Archaeology I moved to Harrogate. There I worked in a box office and theatre bar in order to fund my own way through my legal training at the College of Law, York.
I completed my training contract in Stevenage where I discovered my talent for litigation and for networking.
In 2005 I persuaded my husband that the West Country was the only place to live and work. We sold our house, and before my husband had a job in Westcountry, I made the move to Devon and agreed that he would follow in due course. I then joined Foot Anstey and the best Property Litigation team in the South West, but of course I would say that! Despite a worrying 3 months apart we never regretted our decision. If you want something enough you have to bite the bullet and everything will fall into place.
My career high point
2008 so far. In March I was appointed as Chairman of the National Association of Women in Property Devon & Cornwall Satellite Branch which gives me the opportunity to meet and work closely with people in all the professions in property and construction across the South West. I really enjoy the networking events, site visits and seminars as well as building up many professional relationships and friendships. In May I was promoted to the position of Associate within Foot Anstey!
My career low point
Working as a cleaner at a university halls of residence in order to pay the first month of my mortgage. I have no difficulty with cleaning as a job but cleaning for students is not an attractive proposition for anybody!
When I am not working…
I like to walk my dog, a brindle and white lurcher called Boots. He runs very fast for short periods and sleeps for the remainder of the day.
The thing that I have learned that I wish I knew when I had started….
Is that the most dangerous lawyer is one who believes they know everything but that lawyers of this type are the most fun to litigate against!
My advice to someone starting out in business now…
To pursue a career that they truly enjoy. For me a career in property litigation means every day is different and full of challenges. Whilst I may think about my cases whilst driving home or in the middle of the night, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I ever wake up and don’t feel passionate about the day ahead it will be time to retire.
My ambitions for the future…
To be promoted within Foot Anstey and to see the firm continue to excel in its ambition to be the best in the South West. Foot Anstey is already well on its way to achieving this aim. It is one of the few law firms to offer both legally aided as well as privately funded work and is dedicated to all clients, individuals, families and
Monday, 19 May 2008
