A LAWYER is saying his goodbyes after 45 years in the business.

Bruce Ballard, from Birkett Long, is retiring from the Wills, Trusts and Probate Team.

His colleagues at the Colchester office described him as an 'extraordinary' worker.

Mr Ballard, who was originally from Halstead but moved to Colchester, joined the firm straight out of school.

His career was not always going to be in law. Whilst at school, law never even entered his head.

He wanted to go to university and read science, but after a push from his father, he found himself a job after leaving school.

In July 1973, Bruce started his first day at Birkett Long, which was then Smith, Morton & Long, as a Trainee Legal Executive.

He said: “Despite the rather grand title, everyone new to the office in those days was expected to do a spell in reception, so my first days were spent acting as a receptionist, delivering letters by hand around Halstead and stamping the post at the end of the day.

"Believe it or not, I also had to collect rents on behalf of clients once a month.”

In 1995, after 22 years at Birkett Long, Bruce became a partner of the firm. Over the years he has seen many changes including the company merger changing from Smith Morton & Long to Birkett Long, employees rise from a handful to more than 180, the growth from one office to three covering the length of Essex, changes in management with three different managing partners, the creation of Birkett Long’s first website in 1998, seven acquisitions and a two rebrands.

He said: “The workplace has changed so much - law firms need to carry a higher volume of work than before. It is a hard world now, you need to be more commercially prepared and to operate as a business.

“The clients, the people in the firm, its ethos of putting the client first and adopting high ethical and moral standards is my reason for staying at Birkett Long for so many years.

“After 45 years, Birkett Long still feels like a family firm.”

Adrian Livesley, managing partner, said he will be missed.

He said: “Bruce has been simply extraordinary. He joined the firm from school at 16 and became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Executives.

"He then decided to go further and qualified as a solicitor and a notary public, ultimately becoming a partner of the firm.

“Forty five years with one firm is an extraordinary achievement. Bruce is a man of fierce loyalty and pride in his firm and his colleagues, a man adored by his clients for his deep knowledge of their affairs and appreciated for his wise and thoughtful advice.

"Although he likes to stay quietly out of the limelight, he is the first person to whom his colleagues turn for help and guidance.

"We will miss him and are delighted he will remain a consultant to the firm, so we can continue to use his knowledge and experience.”