Leading Lincolnshire solicitor spends time mentoring legal stars of the future at his old city university

LEADING Lincolnshire lawyer Roly Freeman has returned to the city’s university where he gained his degree to support and mentor present-day law students.

Roly was 30 when he left his 12-year career as a data analyst in the RAF to embark upon a law degree at what was then the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside. After three years of study, followed by the successful completion of his Legal Practice Course, (LPC) in York, Roly was awarded a traineeship in the county and qualified as a lawyer.

Turn the clock forward two decades, and Roly has joined Wilkin Chapman solicitors’ agricultural team as a Partner. His new base is at the firm’s expanded premises on Brayford Wharf East just across the water from the impressive university centre. Today, Roly spares the time to mentor law students at the university as well as the occasional guest lecture.

“Of course, it is markedly different from when I was there.  When you look across from my office here at Wilkin Chapman and see what there is now, it is remarkable how much has changed and shows what a successful university can do for a city,” he said.

With a family home in Sleaford, Roly progressed straight from the town’s Carre’s Grammar School into the RAF when he was 18 – a career he enjoyed for more than ten years before deciding upon a change of direction.

“I felt I wanted to do something different and law offered a very good career option, but also one that suited the skills I had acquired in the RAF,” he said.

Before joining Wilkin Chapman in April, Roly had acquired significant knowledge and experience working within the areas of agriculture and commercial property in Lincolnshire. He is now delighted to be progressing his future with one of the UK’s largest regional law firms.

“It was the size of the firm, its ambitions and the people here that attracted me to Wilkin Chapman,” said Roly, who joins a team led by the firm’s Head of Agriculture, Catherine Harris.

Over the last two decades, Roly has seen significant changes within Lincolnshire’s farming community and looks forward to supporting those working within it, in the years ahead.

“The days when someone had a piece of land and just farmed it are fast disappearing, and there is evidence of that everywhere with diversification into other areas, such as renewables, which offer farmers an alternative and more reliable source of income. It continues to be my ambition to offer those within the sector reliable and trusted advice,” he added.