3 Questions

Andrew Allon Managing Associate, Conveyancing team

QUESTIONS

Where did you study law and why did you want to become a lawyer?

I studied for my Law degree at the University of Sunderland and qualified as a solicitor in 2011.

I’ve always wanted to do something that helps people, and working in law, clients are always coming to you with an issue and it’s your job to find a solution. It’s a very rewarding line of work.

Why did you want to specialise in residential property work?

During my studies, I enjoyed Family Law and Criminal Law, however in practice I found that working in Property was the right fit for me. I have previously worked at firms which specialised in Conveyancing exclusively, however that can lead to quite a narrow view of things. Working at Swinburne Maddison, I am often working alongside colleagues in other departments and get to see the broader picture of that individual’s life.

Buying and selling a property is one of the biggest moments in an individual’s lifetime – there’s a reason why it’s often at the top of those “most stressful” lists! It’s my job to guide them through the process in a calm and pragmatic way, helping them to understand all of the legal jargon and supporting them where I can – sometimes emotionally.

I do have a very full case load, but I enjoy meeting a variety of new clients on a weekly basis and each transaction is different from the next – it’s never boring!

What has been your greatest achievement at Swinburne Maddison?

I would say my personal greatest achievement was being promoted to Managing Associate in May 2022.

However, I’ve got to say I am extremely proud of not just my achievements, but the whole Conveyancing team’s efforts over the past couple of years. Thanks to the SDLT Holiday during the first lockdown in 2020, there was a huge boom in new instructions and it was a bit of a crazy period for all of us. But we’re a very tight-knit team and, together, we rose to the challenge and supported each other through it.

With another SDLT holiday/reduction now in place until March 2024 I can see it being another busy period for us and we’re currently recruiting for another lawyer to join our team. For anyone looking for a fresh challenge who likes the idea of working with a highly experienced and supportive team of colleagues, please do get in touch. Swinburne Maddison really is a great place to work.

Please visit the Careers page of our website www.swinburnemaddison.co.uk for details of our current vacancies or get in touch with our HR team on 0191 384 2441 or hr@swinburnemaddison.co.uk for a chat in confidence.