We recently caught up with them to learn more about their experience, approach, and what drives them in their work.
Who’s who?
- Julie McCrery (JM) – Managing Associate based in Derby and also covering Nottingham
- Sophie Spreckley (SS) – Associate Solicitor based in Derby, also covering Nottingham
- Jack English (JE) – Solicitor based in Beeston and supporting the Nottingham office
They first worked together at a large regional law firm before moving to a smaller practice and then bringing their combined expertise to Rothera Bray.
Why did you choose family law?
JM: Family law chose me. I retrained after working in HR years ago, going to university part-time whilst I was working. I originally wanted to do corporate and commercial law, but after my training contract I moved towards family law. Since the age of five, I wanted to be a part‑time solicitor and part‑time ballerina – but the ballet dream ended when my feet reached size 8!
SS: I had no idea what I wanted to do. I thought I’d end up in property or employment law. But family law covers so many areas and every case is different. It is very people-focused and I like the variation.
JE: It was simply the subject I enjoyed most at university. It is important that you enjoy what you do because you’re doing it every day and spend so much time at work. I’ve always preferred acting for individuals rather than the corporate side. I think you need to have an interest in what you do to be good at it.
What does a typical day look like for you at Rothera Bray?
JM: A lot of client contact and communication with other solicitors. There’s far less court work now than there used to be.
SS: That’s because we’re good at settling cases before they get to court!
JM: Jack has a lot of experience with children matters, so he still deals with more hearings.
JE: Yes, we do a lot of work involving arrangements for children.
Are there any standout moments from your legal careers so far?
SS: I think we all feel proud in most of our cases because often clients arrive feeling vulnerable and lacking confidence. Seeing them grow and take control, especially from the financial side of things, and come out stronger is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
JE: When we’re representing the financially weaker party, they often come in expecting very little or just want to be able to afford a house. When you’ve got to the end of their case and you’ve helped them secure a lot more than that-I think that’s quite rewarding, isn’t it?
JM: I once helped a client who’d had a financial order years before. She’d been in a very abusive relationship and had mental health difficulties due to the breakdown of the marriage. She’d never received the spousal maintenance she’d been awarded years earlier and believed nothing could be done, but there was lots we could do, and we achieved a really positive result for her.
I also enjoy helping clients understand their rights, especially fathers who historically felt they had none. It’s nice to be able to address an imbalance from people’s perception of what they think they’re entitled to, and what they can get.
How do you help clients feel at ease when they first meet you?
The team describe their approach as friendly, informal and guided entirely by each client’s needs.
SS: We focus on building a relationship rather than pressuring someone to instruct us.
JM: Clients need to know nothing they say is ‘wrong’. I can learn more about them and their situation when the conversation naturally goes off in different directions than I do from asking set questions. Our initial meetings can easily last 90 minutes because we take the time to listen.
SS: For many clients, it’s their first time ever speaking to a solicitor while also going through a breakup, and it can be a daunting prospect. We take the time to sit and listen, let them talk openly and reassure them that we understand. We encourage them to bring a friend or take notes, whatever makes them feel supported.
JE: You have to be quite flexible in your approach. If you’ve got a client that you don’t think will be able to cope with proceedings, then you find a softer approach like mediation or negotiations with solicitors. Whereas other clients may need firmer guidance if the other party is dominating. There’s no one-size-fits-all.
Often they’ll go away for a few weeks or months, then come back when they’re ready. And when they come back and you remember their children’s names or where they went on holiday, that definitely helps to build that relationship.
JM: And I always remember the dogs! You learn a lot about people from their pets.
What’s the best thing about working together?
JE: We make each other laugh.
JM: And we have absolute trust and confidence in each other.
SS: Clients benefit from the fact that we work so closely. We all bring different perspectives and we’re happy to consult each other on complex cases.
They also admit that working in family law can sometimes be emotionally draining. Having a supportive team around them makes all the difference.
SS: We’re one of the few teams that choose to be in the office together every day – we genuinely like working alongside each other.
Do you spend time together outside of work?
SS: We have social outings like drinks, seasonal events, and our Christmas get-together.
JM: Sophie and I spend every working day together, so I’d worry if they wanted to see me more! I do love dancing though – I go to a kitchen dancing class and I’m back to it now after a foot injury.
SS: She even has a mug that says ‘Kitchen Dancing’!
SS: As for me, my hobbies are shopping and hitting 10,000 steps a day.
JM: We’re also exploring Pilates and Bungee Fit together – Jack is less enthusiastic!
JE: I do like running. I completed a half marathon last September, and I’m training for the Derby half this August. I also enjoy food and socialising.
It’s clear that Julie, Sophie and Jack share not only experience and expertise, but genuine camaraderie. Their enthusiasm, humour and deep care for their clients shine through in everything they do, and they are a valued part of the Rothera Bray family law team.
If you would like to get in touch with a member of our Family Law team today you can call on 03456 462 128 or email enquiries@rotherabray.co.uk.
