At Lester Aldridge, we have many members of staff and partners who have worked at the firm for over 20 years, something we are proud of and want to celebrate!

Julie Coleman, Chartered Legal Executive, has worked in Lester Aldridge’s property team for 23 years. We chatted to her to find out how things have changed over the years.

What is your role at Lester Aldridge and what does it entail?

I am a Chartered Legal Executive, working in the Residential Property & Conveyancing team, based in the Bournemouth office. I assist with property purchases, sales re-mortgages and lease extensions.

When did you join the firm and in what role?

I have worked in residential property since 1988 and joined Lester Aldridge in 1999. I had two children and wanted to return to work, part-time. LA were happy to offer me the flexibility to fit in with school hours. I was excited to continue my legal career at a leading, local firm.

How has technology changed over the years and how has this impacted your role?

The conveyancing process has not changed hugely over the years but technology has developed. Transactions are far more efficient now, the speed and ease of communication has improved significantly. When I first started work there were no emails or case management systems, a long way from the paperless files we now have.

What type of client do you work with?

My client could be anyone who is selling, buying or re-mortgaging a property. I assist first-time buyers, investors who may be buying-to-let, families upsizing and those moving from the city to the countryside. I act for clients across the whole of England, mostly in the South, although sometimes my clients can be based abroad and looking to buy within England as an investment.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

The best part of my day is telling a client that they have exchanged contracts or completed the sale or purchase of their home. Buying or selling a property can be a stressful time but I enjoy supporting my clients all the way through to them getting the keys!

Describe what LA means to you, on a personal level, in 15 words or less.

A great firm to work for with a superb reputation, a real community.

Please see below some recent client testimonials for Julie:

“Lester Aldridge were recommended to me by a friend who had also used the firm as their conveyancing solicitors. I was put in touch with Julie Coleman who helped my Partner and I purchase our first home. Julie kept us updated throughout the whole process and always answered our questions promptly. It was all very new to us but Julie was very informative and kept it stress free. We will definitely be using Lester Aldridge again in the future.” Harriet.

“Julie Coleman at Lester Aldridge, Bournemouth helped me purchase and sell a difficult 2 bedroom flat in Bournemouth. Having used other legal teams in the past, I can confidently say Julie is the best I have ever used.  Julie kept me informed and was on top of everything.  I didn’t have any issues about timings and Julie would always ensure to keep me in the loop on the necessities.  Going forward, I will not look past instructing Julie for all my property purchases and sales across the country. Thanks again for all your help and ensuring we got it over the line!” Ryan Roberts.

“I have used Julie Coleman twice now for conveyancing work. The first time she was the only local solicitor who took on a more complicated case. She was excellent. I used her again for another move and her professionalism shone through against all the others in the chain. Julie and her team are accessible, polite, efficient and unbelievably helpful. I can’t rate them high enough… Moving is a stressful time and I would always turn to, or recommend, Julie and her team.” Nick Lee.