Where there’s a will, there’s a lawyer: using solicitor records for family research Posted 19 December 2023 by Julie GoucherIllustration provided by Trish O’Reilly – used with permission Solicitor records are often considered as inaccessible and difficult – and so tend to be overlooked and underused as a research resource. Yet these records crystallise moments in time, trapping distant voices and actions like insects caught in amber. As such, they offer great potential for family and social historians. This talk explores why these records are so often neglected – and why genealogists and other historical researchers might want to give them a second glance. It dives into the types of records that can be found in solicitor collections and draws from examples found in boxes of papers preserved in public archives in London, England. The case studies illustrate how such records can be used to deepen our understanding of the past, unpicking contemporaneous detail that adds context, colour – and spice – to people’s life stories and their communities. Not the easiest of records to identify and locate, solicitors’ records are nevertheless worthy of our curiosity and this presentation gives tips on how to find them. Trisha O’Reilly, used with permission About the Speaker After a long career in corporate communications, Trisha O’Reilly returned to studies and recently completed her post-graduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. She is a member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists. About the Webinar This webinar is available to both members and non-members, but registration is essential. The webinar will be recorded and once available, it will be available to non-members for ONE week, after which it will be available to members only. 7.30pm BST on 15 May 2024 – to Register for the webinar please click HERE.