Sarah's Story: Will Writing Around School Hours

I was a secondary school English teacher for 12 years. I loved the teaching part — helping students discover literature, seeing those lightbulb moments. What I didn't love was the marking until 10pm, the behaviour management, the endless meetings, and being so exhausted by Friday that weekends were just recovery time.

When my second child was born, I took maternity leave knowing I couldn't go back to the same schedule. The thought of 6am starts and marking through bath time filled me with dread. But what else could I do? Teaching was all I knew.

How I Found Estate Planning:

I stumbled across the free will writing course while researching "careers for teachers" at 2am during a night feed. The idea of flexible hours, working from home, and helping people appealed instantly. No marking. No behaviour management. No politics.

I was sceptical about "free" training — nothing's ever really free, right? But I figured I had nothing to lose during maternity leave. If it was rubbish, I'd just stop.

What Convinced Me:

The training was genuinely professional. Not a sales pitch disguised as education. I learned about wills, LPAs, trusts, consultations — everything I'd need. By the end, I felt confident I could actually do this job. The WILLO software made document creation straightforward, which helped massively.

After completing training, I subscribed to WILLO (£150/month) and started taking clients straight away. My first few came from friends and antenatal contacts who'd been putting off their own wills. That gave me real cases to learn on while my reputation built — and within a few months, the school-gate referrals started.

Eighteen months in, I've settled into a routine that works around my children (now 4 and 7). Here's what a typical working day looks like:

Morning Rush (7:00-9:00am):

School run chaos — breakfast, book bags, PE kits, whatever my 4-year-old has decided is essential today. This isn't work time. This is survival time.

9:15am — Finally at My Desk:

Kids dropped at school and nursery. Coffee in hand. I check emails and messages from yesterday's client. She's asked a question about executors — her husband originally wanted to be sole executor, but they've decided to add their adult daughter too. Quick reply explaining how this works.

9:30am — Document Drafting:

I had a lovely consultation yesterday with a couple in their 60s. Mirror wills plus both LPAs each. Using WILLO, I draft their documents — the system guides you through each section, flagging anything that looks unusual. This couple's is straightforward. By 10:15am, I've got draft documents ready to send for review.

10:30am — Today's Client Prep:

I have a 2pm home visit booked. Reviewing my notes from our phone call: divorced mum, two teenage children, concerns about what happens to the house. She's mentioned her ex-husband is "difficult" — so I'll need to handle this sensitively. I prepare questions and think through likely scenarios.

11:00am — Admin and Follow-ups:

Chase a signing appointment that's been postponed twice. Send a gentle reminder to a client whose LPA documents have been ready for two weeks. Return a call from someone whose mum recommended me — she wants to arrange wills for her and her husband. Book them in for next Thursday.

11:30am — Quick Break:

Make another coffee. Throw in some laundry. Reply to a school message about a class trip. One of the joys of working from home.

12:00pm — Lunch and Travel:

Eat something while reviewing this afternoon's appointment. Leave at 12:45pm for my 2pm client in a town 25 minutes away.

2:00pm — Client Consultation:

Julia's home is a modest semi-detached. She's nervous — talking about death isn't easy, especially as a single parent. I explain that's completely normal. Over tea, we discuss her situation:

• •House worth around £280,000 (owned outright after divorce settlement)
• •Some savings and a workplace pension
• •Two children, 14 and 17
• •Ex-husband has no claim but she's worried about him somehow interfering

I explain how a will works, discuss guardians for if anything happened before the kids are 18 (her sister has agreed), and recommend a Property Protection Trust to ensure the house goes to her children even if circumstances change. We also discuss LPAs — she hadn't considered them, but understands why they matter once I explain.

3:30pm — Wrapping Up:

Julia's much more relaxed now. She understands her options and has made decisions. Will plus trust plus both LPAs — her total will be around £650. I explain what happens next: I draft documents, send for review, then arrange a signing appointment. She's genuinely grateful. "I've been putting this off for years. Wish I'd done it sooner."

3:45pm — School Run:

Dash to pick up the kids. Home by 4:15pm. Work is done for the day.

Let me be transparent about money, because that's what people really want to know.

My Current Workload:

• •2-3 client consultations per week
• •Average 2.5 working days (roughly 12-15 hours total)
• •School hours only, term-time primarily (I do some work in holidays but much less)

Average Fees Per Client:

Most of my clients want comprehensive packages — will plus LPAs. My average transaction is around £450-550. That's significantly higher than the basic will prices you see advertised because I provide proper advice and complete service.

Monthly Income:

• •Typical month: 8-10 clients = £3,600-4,500 gross
• •After expenses (WILLO £150, insurance, etc.): roughly £3,200-4,000 net
• •Annual equivalent: £35,000-45,000

Compared to Teaching:

My teaching salary was £42,000 for full-time work — 50+ hour weeks, exhaustion, stress. Now I match it working 12-15 hours in school hours, no marking, no stress, no exhaustion.

Could I Earn More?

Absolutely. If I worked during holidays, added a fourth day, or took evening appointments, I could easily hit £60,000+. But that's not what I want right now. I chose this career for flexibility, and I'm using it.

What the Money Means:

We're not rich, but we're comfortable. We can afford holidays, kids' activities, savings. I don't dread Sundays anymore. I'm present for my children in a way I never could be while teaching.

For more details on earnings, see our Will Writer Salary Guide.

After 18 months, I can honestly say I love this work. Here's why:

Actually Helping People:

Teaching felt like pushing water uphill — so much bureaucracy, so many kids who didn't want to be there. Estate planning clients actively want help. They're grateful for my expertise. Julia (from earlier) texted me after our meeting: "Thank you so much. I feel like a weight's been lifted."

When I complete someone's wills and LPAs, I know I've genuinely protected their family. That's meaningful in a way marking GCSE essays never was.

The Variety:

Every client is different. This week: a widow sorting her affairs after losing her husband, a young couple with their first baby, a business owner needing complex trust arrangements. Different stories, different challenges, different conversations.

Control Over My Life:

If my child is ill, I reschedule clients. If school calls, I can be there in 20 minutes. School holidays, I scale back. I've never missed a sports day, nativity, or parents' evening. That was impossible when teaching.

Using My Brain:

Estate planning isn't mindless. You need to understand complex family situations, apply legal knowledge, and solve problems. I use my brain without being overwhelmed. The intellectual challenge is there without the burnout.

No Marking:

Seriously. This deserves its own point. No. More. Marking. No Sunday evenings dreading the pile. No carrying bags of books everywhere. Documents take time, but once they're done, they're done.

Working From Home:

My commute is 10 seconds. I wear comfortable clothes. I can do laundry between appointments. It's genuinely lovely.

It's not perfect. Honest account of the harder bits:

Emotional Conversations:

Estate planning means discussing death. Sometimes clients cry. Sometimes they share difficult family situations — estranged children, dying spouses, painful divorces. You have to be comfortable sitting with sadness.

I wasn't prepared for this initially. Teaching dealt with teenage drama, not mortality. I've learned to listen, be empathetic, and gently guide without being cold or dismissive.

Self-Discipline Required:

Working from home with no boss means you have to motivate yourself. Some days, the sofa and Netflix look very appealing. I've had to develop routines and boundaries — work hours are work hours, even if no one's checking.

Income Variability:

In teaching, £3,500 landed in my account every month regardless. Now, income varies. January was quiet (post-Christmas). February picked up. August will be slow (school holidays). I've learned to budget for averages rather than expecting consistency.

Building Initial Confidence:

My first few clients, I was nervous. What if they asked something I didn't know? What if I made a mistake? The training prepared me well, but there's a gap between learning and doing. It took probably 10-15 clients before I felt genuinely confident.

The Lonely Bits:

Teaching has endless (often unwanted) colleague interaction. Working alone means no staffroom chat, no one to vent to about a difficult client, no automatic social contact. I've joined some online communities and make effort to see friends, but it's different.

Managing Client Expectations:

Some clients want things done yesterday. Others need extensive hand-holding. Learning to manage expectations and set boundaries took practice. I'm better at it now, but it's a learned skill.

The honest answer: yes, enthusiastically, but with caveats.

You Should Consider This If:

• •You want flexible hours that genuinely work around family
• •You're comfortable with sensitive, emotional conversations
• •You're self-motivated and can work independently
• •You want professional work without corporate stress
• •You're interested in helping people with important life decisions

You Probably Shouldn't If:

• •You need guaranteed fixed income
• •You're uncomfortable discussing death and family issues
• •You struggle with self-discipline
• •You hate sales or explaining your value (clients need to understand why they should pay professional fees)
• •You want constant colleague interaction

For Other Parents:

If you're stuck in a demanding career that doesn't fit with family life, this could genuinely be the answer. The flexibility is real — I've tested it for 18 months. You can build a proper professional income around school hours.

The Training:

The free course gave me everything I needed. I went from knowing nothing about estate planning to confidently helping clients within a month of completing training. It's comprehensive and practical.

Next Steps If Interested:

Read more about becoming a will writer, understand the qualifications explained, then take the free course. You've got nothing to lose.

Eighteen months ago, I was dreading going back to teaching. Now I have a career I love that lets me be the mum I want to be. That's worth more than any salary figure.

Based on my experience, here's what I'd tell someone just beginning:

1. Complete the Training Properly:

Don't rush through to "get it done." The training content is there for a reason. I watched some videos twice. Take notes. Do the quizzes properly. The investment of time upfront pays off in confidence later.

2. Your First Clients Will Feel Scary:

And that's okay. I was terrified before my first solo consultation. I over-prepared, brought too many notes, probably talked too much. But I got through it, and the client was happy. You will too.

3. Start With Your Existing Network:

My first clients were friends, neighbours, and antenatal contacts who'd been putting off their own wills. That removed the "where do I find clients" panic and let me build confidence on cases where the personal connection forgave any beginner nerves. By client five or six, I was getting school-gate referrals.

4. Set Clear Boundaries:

Working from home blurs work and life. I have a dedicated workspace. I don't answer work calls during school pickup. I don't check emails after 4pm. These boundaries took time to establish but are essential for sustainability.

5. Learn to Explain Value:

Some people expect wills to cost £50 because they've seen online advertisers. Learn to explain why professional service costs more and is worth it. This isn't "selling" — it's helping clients understand they get what they pay for.

6. Connect with Other Estate Planners:

Online communities, local meetups, the training community — connecting with others doing this work helps with the isolation and gives you people to ask questions.

7. Be Patient with Income:

Month one won't look like month eighteen. I earned very little in my first couple of months as I built up. Now I have a steady flow of referrals and returning clients (people whose parents need wills, etc.). It takes time to build.

8. Look After Yourself:

Emotional conversations take a toll. Some days are heavy — you've heard difficult stories, helped someone facing their mortality, navigated family conflict. Develop ways to decompress. For me, it's walking the dog and strictly separating work and home time.

Common questions about part-time estate planning around family.