Carey Jacobs is one of ten partners at law firm Palmers – and for a long time she was the only female partner at the company.

Her legal specialism is commercial property, but she is also one of two partners responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the business.

“Palmers is a regional law firm, based in the South of Essex,” she explains. “We are a full-service law firm with a ‘Local Hero’ ethos and reputation.

“Every day is different, as the role is so varied and also as a result of our promoting the use of agile working and appropriate time management.

“Generally, half the week tends to be centred around ‘traditional’ office hours, but on other days, particularly when working from home, I can be starting work at 6.30-7am and finishing any time between 4.30 and 6pm.

“The typical business day for me is working on and striking the right balance between managing my client portfolio and managing the business.”

Carey’s first full-time job was her trainee solicitor contract at Palmers, “I joined – I stayed,” she laughs, and she was set upon this career path at age 15 following work experience at a small Essex law firm.

While she has undertaken all the training you would expect for a solicitor (a degree, a post graduate course and trainee solicitor years) she is also an advocate of balancing business with being an actual human being!

“We have a focus on wellbeing at Palmers,” she says. “And we have undertaken several supporting training and development workshops, including courses on mindful meditation, food and nutrition and have trialled in-house yoga.

“In order to function properly and maintain resilience, you need to look after yourself as a human being first and foremost.”

Does she have any regrets?

“In truthfulness – no,” she states.

“Everything happens to make you the kind of person you are. If really pushed, I’d say I wish I was around to practice law in the Eighties. It all seemed to be a lot more fun!”

Indeed the businesswomen she most admires is none other than Material Girl herself, Madonna.

“Her ability to reinvent her “product” time and again, to remain relevant, and to have multiple successful businesses, built from a time when she had absolutely nothing, is something to be admired,” she smiles.