Today’s Wills and Probate is an online news publication informing will writers, probate practitioners and estate planners about the changes that are happening in their market. It is now one of the leading sources of information for wills and probate professionals in England and Wales. Launched in 2014 they provide daily news, industry insight and regular updates via their website.
Today’s Wills and Probate is privately owned and editorially independent, so they’re well placed to provide unbiased relevant news and content to their community of readers.
Their weekly newsletter comes out every Friday and is free to sign up. They have circulation of c. 4000 practitioners split between the solicitor and will writing community. Critically they make no separation between the two and champion the interests of both communities.
PLG’s Co-founder, Darren Leggett, caught up with David Opie from Today’s Wills and Probate to find out more about their services.
So David, tell us a bit about yourself
My name is David Opie and I run Today’s Media, a publishing, marketing and events business specialising in the legal sector.
We’re best known in the wills and probate space for the popular online news publication Today’s Wills and Probate and The British Wills and Probate Awards.
My background is predominantly in sales and marketing in the legal services industry with a keen interest in journalism.
Oh, and my Amazon Alexa playlist is permanently set to “90’s Rock.”
How did you get into working in the legal sector?
Like so many of us I sort of fell into it! I’d been in the commercial cleaning business for a few years (that’s another story!) and needed a change. I joined a business in Lancaster who had been involved in Home Information Packs, transitioning into a conveyancing search business when they were scrapped.
This was my introduction to legal services. That business was then bought, and I worked for a sizeable property business as a supplier across both estate agency and conveyancing, before joining the parent company of Today’s Wills and Probate, which was heavily involved in risk management for conveyancers.
I fell in love with the publication and found I enjoyed it much more than the risk management side of things and got an opportunity to head it up, before acquiring it in June 2020.
As well as Private Client law, what other sectors do you work in?
Today’s Wills and Probate is one of our family of publications covering consumer law. Today’s Conveyancer was launched in 2010 and Today’s Family Lawyer in 2017.
The publications have long been complemented by our digital marketing agency and an extensive events programme, the highlight of which is The British Wills and Probate Awards
In June 2021 we took the decision to create an identity which better explained who we are and what we do, aligning our branding under the Today’s Media banner.
Today’s Media incorporates the Today’s publications, the rebranded Solve Legal Marketing business now known as Today’s Legal Content and our events programme.
What have you got coming up in 2022?
Having acquired the business in 2021 we’ve spent 6 months consolidating and planning. We’ve already had quite a busy 2022 with the second edition of The British Conveyancing Awards being hosted in London on 15th March. We managed to get 300 practitioners in a room to recognise conveyancing excellence alongside an online audience of c.500 through the live stream.
Planning is now well underway for The British Wills and Probate Awards which are in their fifth year. 2021 saw 200 practitioners celebrate at the suitably named “Grand Hotel” in Birmingham with an online audience of c.500. This year we’re looking to go bigger and better with the event back in Birmingham as a hybrid event with the opportunity to join in person and via the live stream again.
We are also actively involved in the Women in Wills networking group, which has now got over 1000 members on LinkedIn. It has been a great source of support throughout the pandemic and can now stretch its legs again as we start to get back together in person.
I’m passionate about the power of the written word which remains such a critical part of the way we consume media but recognise that we need to ensure that Today’s Wills and Probate continues to innovate the way we deliver our content and so we’ve incorporated more video, and audio content including launching the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast.
Today’s Wills and Probate also hosted a very successful Summit in March 2020 just before lockdown which we’ve been asked whether we’ll run again… watch this space!
Tell us more about you personally. Do you have a favourite sport, and if so who is your team?
I don’t admit it very often, but I was brought up in Grimsby and, with very little else to do in Grimsby, I played a lot of football and rugby at school, so I’m very much a Grimsby Town FC fan. Little known fact about Grimsby Town FC, the football stadium (Blundell Park) isn’t actually in Grimsby but is in fact in the neighbouring seaside town of Cleethorpes!
Do you have any holidays planned?
I do actually. My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2020 at the height of the first lockdown. We’d all booked a holiday and it was inevitably delayed. 2 years later we’re (hoping!) to go at Easter! Some Summer sun wouldn’t go amiss!
Finally, how do you unwind after a long week?
We’re very fortunate to live by the sea and there’s nothing quite like a wander down the prom on an evening and watching the sunset.
To find out more about Today’s Wills and Probate and their family of publications visit their website, or contact them by calling 0330 1000 839 or email press@todayswillsandprobate.co.uk
