Legal training scheme welcomes new recruits as nine qualify as solicitors

Seven future lawyers have joined a training scheme at Greater Lincolnshire law firm Wilkin Chapman, as nine qualify as solicitors.

After a two year training programme, nine new solicitors have qualified through Wilkin Chapman, as seven more join the firm’s 2022 intake.

The nine solicitors, who will be based in Lincoln, Grimsby and Beverley, specialise in disciplines including medical negligence, employment law, dispute resolution and probate, as well as corporate and commercial law.

Meanwhile, the seven new trainees join the company from across Greater Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk and South Yorkshire. Over four six-month placements, the trainees will work in roles throughout the firm to gain experience in a wide range of fields.

Grimsby-born trainee, Rebecca Jex joins the company after graduating with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) with Clinical Learning from Lancaster University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Law in Leeds. She said:

“Having grown up in Lincolnshire, I realised from an early stage in my time at university that I wanted to work locally when I graduated. Wilkin Chapman is the leading law firm in Lincolnshire and has a very prestigious reputation in the area.

“As a local to the area, I wanted to be associated with a firm that understands the real demand for these services in the area and seeks to provide as many people as possible with the advice and assistance they need.”

Adam Burton, who is now a commercial property solicitor with the firm, joined Wilkin Chapman’s training scheme after undertaking a mentoring scheme while studying at the University of Lincoln. After qualifying as a new solicitor he said:

“I am really grateful to have carried out my training contract with Wilkin Chapman. Throughout the two years I worked closely with a wide variety of people, from legal executives, senior solicitors and partners. This provided a great opportunity to learn from experts within their own fields.

“Whilst moving seats every six months could seem daunting, I was always welcomed with open arms into the departments. This made asking for help and support much easier.

“I got to have regular client contact and build good professional relationships with clients. Qualifying as a solicitor has allowed me to reflect on how far I have come and how grateful I am for all of the support and advice I received along the way.”

Wilkin Chapman’s 2022 training scheme intake includes: Hannah Jones from Newark, Harry Fox from Hull, Caitlin Bellamy from Cleethorpes, Jacob Houltby from Alford, Reece Townsend from King’s Lynn, Rebecca Jex from Grimsby and Sophie Emms from Doncaster.

The nine solicitors who have qualified from the scheme this year include: Adam Burton, Emily Hand and Martha Baker who will each be based at Wilkin Chapman’s Lincoln office; Holly Marris, Jaye Addison, Keighan Lovett, Laura Campbell and Lily-Rose Darwood who are based at Wilkin Chapman’s office in Grimsby; and Brittany Codling in the Beverley office.

Wilkin Chapman’s training scheme places an emphasis on personal development, and training contracts are offered to young people in the hope that they will become a solicitor and eventually a partner of the firm.

Applications for Wilkin Chapman’s 2024 and 2025 intakes of trainees are now open. Find out more at www.wilkinchapman.co.uk/careers/training-contracts.

Wilkin Chapman is the largest law firm in the Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire region and is ranked at 111 in the Lawyer’s Top 200 UK Law Firms for 2021. For more information visit www.wilkinchapman.co.uk.