Sarah Caughey, 28, associate, Olswang

“I’m a solicitor based in the film group at Olswang, a law firm specialising in media. I work in film finance. It’s the same as most financing – loans and security – but I get the names of Hollywood stars passing across my desk. I’ve recently finished working on the film How to Lose Friends and Alienate People starring Kirsten Dunst.

“I represent both lenders and film producers. These could be an independent film producer, the UK Film Council or a US company like the Weinstein Company. I deal with the money and the security around the loan, preparing contracts so the lender knows they are going to get the money back.

“My average day is 9.30am to 7.30pm and most of it is spent drafting and reviewing documents. I document the terms on which the money is lent to the producer and the security to help to ensure that they will get their money back. I review agreements to distribute the film in different countries, agreements to acquire the rights to make the film if it is based on a book and cast and crew agreements. I have to make sure that they are acceptable to my client. Hundreds of documents go flying around on each film transaction.

“My day usually involves conference calls with the producer, lenders, solicitors and a completion guarantor. I make sure the concepts that have been agreed are reflected in the contracts. Clients are often interested only in the bigger picture, but it’s my job to get the details right.

“As well as working on documents, my job is also about problem-solving. Each party has a slightly different focus on what they want to achieve and sometimes there are conflicts of interest. People argue over credits – they’re very contentious – and when they are going to get paid. Before you can close a film, you need to get everyone to agree. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle.

“At present I’m working on four different films, all at different stages. Deals can take a couple of months to close. The hardest part is making the client think that you’re working on only their film. Sometimes there are pressures with the financing, particularly if filming has started. If a deal doesn’t close in time, then there might not be any money to pay the cast and crew.

“It’s not all glamour, but I do get to go to the odd premiere. I enjoy film because often for producers this project is their dream. If you can close the deal so they can make the film, that’s the fun part.”

A second opinion

Dan Williams, 35, criminal defence solicitor with the Public Defender Service

“I represent clients in local magistrates’ courts and police stations. Everyone is entitled to free and independent legal advice. Clients are people who have been accused of committing an offence, usually by the police. It could be anything from assault, arson, theft or sexual offences – there’s nothing I haven’t represented on.

“About 60 per cent of the work is with repeat offenders. Clients request us at the police station or the court, and I go straight there. The police explain the allegation and disclose the evidence. You have to think on your feet. I’m in court every day, usually for about three hours in the morning.

“I advise the client as to their options for the police interview. Police have 24 hours to investigate the offence before deciding on a charge. At the time of arrest and during questioning I ensure that the police don’t act oppressively.

“I stay with the clients during the police interview to ensure that their legal rights are upheld. These rights can very often be overlooked. The paperwork element of my job involves reading evidence compiled by the prosecution. I read it and give advice based on my client’s instructions.

“Criminal defence lawyers work extremely unsociable hours. We have a 24-hour callout service and take turns to go out each night and work weekends. Last night I was out until 3.45am and back in court by 9.30am. Criminals rarely work nine to five – most drink or drugs-related offences happen at night. Sometimes they are withdrawing from heroin, which makes them very difficult to deal with.

“In the afternoons, I’m back in the office or in the police station. I could be making applications for bail, conducting a trial, having a legal argument with the prosecution before a district judge or trying to get a client out of prison. It’s our duty to act in the best interest of our clients, no one else, because our work is publicly funded by the legal aid fund.

“I do the work because I find it very interesting. It’s not sifting through papers, which is what people think lawyers do. I can see myself doing this job until I retire.”

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