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Originally from Boyle, Co. Roscommon, now living in Furbo, Frances opened her own practice in Spiddal last May. Providing legal advice to clients on property law, litigation, employment law and will-drafting, amongst other matters, Frances loves the freedom of being her own boss.
“I studied law in UCD and qualified with a BCL and a diploma in EU law before qualifying as a solicitor from Blackhall in 1993. After a number of years practising as a solicitor in Ireland, Australia and the Isle of Man, I knew that this year was the right time to branch out on my own. Working in different offices and jurisdictions was very interesting and challenging and gave me valuable experience in specialised areas such as labour law, medical negligence and financial services litigation. Spiddal was the obvious place for me to base the business from as it is so near home. With fabulous sea views, no traffic jams and lots of parking, what’s not to love!”
Frances loves the variety and versatility that comes with her chosen profession. “One day you could be representing a client in court for drunk and disorderly behaviour, and the next you could be taking instructions for a will from an elderly person sick in hospital. At the end of the day, I believe that if you enjoy what you do, it will never feel like work. Honesty, integrity and an ability to listen and communicate is also really important in this job. I would advise anyone who is interestd in a legal career to spend some time in a solicitors office to see what type of work is involved. It’s not the career that it is sometimes portrayed as, but it can be a very rewarding and enjoyable one.”