Welcome to our fourth edition of our ‘An Interview with our Family Team’ series! In this edition, we meet Racheal Gould, Alara Guven and Jasmine Davey from our Exeter, Taunton and Truro offices.
Racheal Gould
Racheal is a trainee solicitor in our Taunton office who will be qualifying into the family team permanently. Racheal is currently working closely alongside Lizzie Smith who is a partner in the Taunton office and featured in the first edition.
Racheal is known for being approachable and hard-working. She is also commended for her accuracy.
What job would you want if you were not in your current role?
If I was not in my current role, I would have liked to have become a detective! I have always been interested in problem solving activities and puzzles, so I was naturally drawn to working as a solicitor or alternatively within the police.
What is your biggest achievement in or outside of work?
One of my biggest achievements was winning a scholarship for university. My scholarship was awarded for achieving the highest grades at A Level out of the Pathways to Law Alumni. I was very proud and honoured to receive this.
Describe a passion you have outside of work.
I am really into fitness and training in the gym. It’s a great stress relief for me and gives me some downtime outside of work. One of my goals is to compete in a bodybuilding show one day.
What is something you have always wanted to do but have not yet done?
The whole process of divorce and resolution of the finances really interested me from the start. I think the entire procedure in the context of financial proceedings is something not well known (including by me before I started my training) as you would hope that you would not have to come across it in your lifetime.
Alara Guven
Alara is a trainee solicitor in our Exeter office. Alara has worked in the family team since 2017 where she joined as a paralegal. During her time as a paralegal Alara was exposed to a wide range of cases. Since completing the Legal Practice Course (LPC), Alara has now started her new position as a trainee solicitor.
Alara is praised for being driven, meticulous and astute.
What do you think clients should look for in a family lawyer?
Someone knowledgeable, confident and approachable. Many seem to want a lawyer who is aggressive, but this only tends to increase acrimony and costs for all involved. The individual you instruct should instil confidence in you and advise you when an argument is weak and not worth pursuing. The aim should be to reach a solution that both parties can live with whilst always championing your client; realistic advice is so important in achieving that.
Describe your role within the team and what do you like most about it?
I joined as a trainee solicitor in the divorce and finance team in September 2024. Family law is such an important area and the trust and reliance that a client places in you is something you always remember; supporting someone through that stress and then achieving an outcome to help them restart their life, is such a rewarding experience.
What is your biggest achievement in or outside of work?
Having recently completed the LPC, I am really proud of the grades I achieved. It was certainly a stressful time, but it was necessary in my journey to becoming a solicitor and I can already see how the course has improved the work I am producing.
What area of family law do you find most fascinating and why?
The distinction between matrimonial and non-matrimonial property and arguments that might arise from this. It is not relevant in all cases, but in some circumstances, there may be justification to argue that one party has brought something to, or acquired something during, the marriage that should not be shared.
Jasmine Davey
Jasmine is a paralegal in our Truro office and joined in September 2023 after studying Law at Exeter University. Working alongside legal advisors, Jasmine has transformed her studying into experience.
Jasmine is described by her colleagues as being diligent, organised and kind.
What job would you want if you were not in your current role?
When I was younger, I wanted to be a veterinary nurse but quickly realised that this was not the route for me when I discovered how much gore was involved!
Describe your role within the team and what do you like most about it?
I am a paralegal which means that I support the legal advisors with their files. My day-to-day jobs can vary but an example of my work includes drafting the necessary legal documents needed for a divorce and finances. The best part of being in the family team is that there is a more personal level to our type of work. You are able to support and guide clients in one of the most difficult times of their lives.
What do you like about working for Stephens Scown?
The ‘one firm’ ethos, their morals and the people.
What is something you have always wanted to do but have not yet done?
Travel more. I would love to visit as many places as possible and tick them off my bucket list. At the top are Singapore, New York and Chile (to visit my friend).
Thank you for reading the fourth edition. We hope you enjoyed getting to know more about our team.