Our Associate, Michelle Murdoch, has been with us for three and a half years now – about time we found out a little bit more about her!
What made you want to get involved in law?
To be honest, I didn’t set out with a clear plan to become a practicing lawyer. I had a number of different subjects down on my application for University, and the night before the application was due to be submitted, my big sister (who was at Uni at the time) told me to take things a bit more seriously as I had umpteen subjects I wanted to do (including Geography, German, Film and Media Studies and Law, to name but a few) to narrow it down, and I ended up choosing Law.
Who inspires you?
My family and partner. My parents have been my biggest inspiration in terms of my work ethic and values, which has influenced me both professionally and personally. My sister’s confidence and refusal to be anything other than authentic is something I also really admire. She’s taught me a lot about resilience and the importance of standing up for what’s right. Finally, my partner Ollie is another big inspiration to me. His ability to handle challenges with incredible strength and composure is something I really admire. He keeps me grounded and, along with my family, encourages me when I need it most. My journey into the legal profession was not an easy one and without them, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am.
Can you give us an overview of your career progression?
My career has really come full circle, bringing me back to VMH where it all started many years ago. After I did my degree, I took time out to go travelling and when I came home, the recession had hit. At that time, the job market was tough, so I decided to do my Diploma in Legal Practice. After that, trying to gain any type of traineeship was very difficult, but while I was applying for traineeships, I managed to get a role as a temporary admin assistant with VMH. I went on to do my traineeship with another firm and have had a few roles at other firms since then, until I came back to VMH as an Associate a few years ago.
What are the main challenges and rewards of your job?
One of the biggest challenges in conveyancing is dealing with often tight deadlines and unexpected issues that arise in transactions. Every property sale or purchase is different, and even the smoothest deals can throw up last-minute complications that require quick thinking and problem-solving, not to mention a lot of stress! The rewards far outweigh the challenges though and there is a real sense of satisfaction in helping clients successfully complete their transactions, especially first-time buyers who are stepping onto the property ladder. Seeing the excitement on a client’s face when everything comes together makes it all worthwhile.
What’s the best thing about working at VMH?
The firm has a supportive and knowledgeable team, which makes it a great environment to work in. There’s a real focus on delivering excellent service while maintaining a friendly and approachable way of working, which is something I really value.
Away from work, what are your interests/hobbies?
Outside of work, I like to keep active in the gym and spending time with my partner, family and friends. I love to cook and bake and often bring in some homemade treats for my colleagues. I haven’t poisoned anyone yet, so I suppose that’s a good sign! When I’m in the mood to relax you’ll likely find me binge-watching some trashy TV (Married at First Sight being the current obsession).