As part of our series on careers here at Hartlaw, we chatted to Matt Seldon about his rise from trainee to Partner. Let’s dive in to find out more about his life in law.
Share a summary of your career path so far.
I went to Sheffield Hallam University for my LLB Law Degree, and after a year working for an electrical contractor, I took my LPC at York College of Law. It was in the following December 2000 that I started here at Hartlaw as a trainee. Once I qualified in January 2003, I became an Assistant Solicitor and two years later became a salaried partner and then an equity partner in 2006.
What attracted you to become a lawyer?
Originally, I was interested in sport, but after taking a year out before uni, I took an additional A level in Law, and really enjoyed the course. I found it was a good way of using my problem-solving brain. I then swapped to study law.
When you look back at the early days here, what do you wish you knew then that you know now?
That would have to be a heads-up on the level of policing we now undertake. The whole industry must investigate clients’ financial arrangements, even investigating our opposite numbers, as part of anti-money laundering and sanction requirements. The level of bureaucracy has gone too far, and it’s something I really dislike about the job.
What has changed since you joined?
The most significant change would be with IT. I remember when we had just one computer on the internet. It was used to check emails just twice a day. We had a physical library of precedents to go to. Fast-forward to today, where everyone has a computer, with cloud-based software and systems, with the precedents and resources all online, second-by-second accounting systems, with everything being pretty much instantaneous.
Is there anything (or anyone) who particularly helped you in your career?
Definitely the people, and that would be two Nicks and a Chris.
Nick Dyson saw something in me at the interview. I wasn’t the strongest academically that had walked through the doors at Hartlaw, but we just clicked. He nurtured me and saw that I could bring something different to the partnership. He let me be me, rather than moulding me into a version of him.
Another Nick, was a solicitor at another firm and again he saw something in me and was very guiding in my early days post-qualification. Working at a prestigious city firm, he would often recommend me for work, even when I had just qualified, which was an incredibly generous and thoughtful thing to do. He had confidence in my work, and this meant a lot. He unfortunately passed away too young, and that had a significant impact on me.
Chris – we met at our interviews here and got on immediately. Going through our training contracts together, doing the same things at the same time, in work and outside of work, has brought us very close. He has always been an amazing friend, support and sounding board. He moved firms, but we are still very good friends, and so are our kids.
I also have to mention Dianne. We have been partners together for over 20 years. The shape Hartlaw is in now, is due to the hard work and vision, we have both put in. Our individual strengths and mutual respect have seen us through some really tough times, such as the financial crash in 2007/8, tricky succession arrangements, and, of course, the COVID years, which turned everything upside down.
I have other significant, good connections that help keep me sane in this job. A lot of the things the firm, or I am going through, my peers are also navigating. It’s good to have good people around you who can relate to the challenges you face. Build and keep working on those connections.
How did your role change on being made partner?
The role becomes more managerial. You have to change from being a lawyer to a business leader. You need to do your work and be a CFO, COO running a multi-million-pound business.
However, the most significant shift is that your perspective changes once you are an equity partner. The responsibility for your staff is massive, to make sure you can pay the bills.
What specific skills do you bring to the partnership?
I have a very quick brain. I can see things from multiple angles and find ways to solve problems. I am able to quickly understand what clients want and need to deal with it effectively and in their best, long-term interest.
What advice would you give to someone choosing the right area of law to be in?
Wait. Don’t choose a field to work in too early. Don’t go with preconceived ideas about an area of law until you have experienced it. They are very different in real life compared to your studies so far. This can also vary hugely depending on where you are and where your clients are. For example, a Family Lawyer in a poor area compared to one in an affluent market-town firm will have very different experiences even though they are practising in the same area of law.
Find out more about Working for Hartlaw here.
