Stephensons Solicitors LLP has recruited eight new trainee solicitors following a rigorous three-stage assessment process to find the legal professions next generation of lawyers.
Niall Helferty, Gemma Crompton, Claire Brown and Adam Pennington (all pictured) will begin their training contracts in September. Natalie Birchall, Victoria Jordan, Jessica Culshaw and Rakhsana Noreen will take up their positions in 2014.
Niall Helferty, from Lisburn, Ireland, said: “I'm delighted to have been successful in my application and it's a great honour to be selected for a training contract with Stephensons; a firm with a great history, which is always seeking to enhance its reputation through first class service to our clients; and with a promising future.”
Claire Brown, from Hull, said: “It is such an exciting time to be a part of Stephensons, particularly with the recent expansion into the London market, and I look forward to all the new experiences and opportunities that my training contract has to offer.”
Victoria Jordan, from St Helens, said: “I am delighted to have been awarded a training contract at a firm which I have worked for over three years, starting as a paralegal to graduate paralegal and now a future trainee. Stephensons really invests in its employees and I am excited to take the next step in my career with the firm.”
Rakhsana Noreen, from Oldham, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be offered a training contract with an extremely reputable firm such as Stephensons. The strong supportive structure Stephensons have in place for training and development ensures the continuous growth of my personal and professional development assisting in the progression of my career as a solicitor.”
All eight are law graduates who have been working at Stephensons as graduate paralegals. The training will involve working in four departments across the firm for six months at a time, demanding a high level of commitment and adaptability. Following the training, they will qualify at solicitors.
Ann Harrison, chairwoman at Stephensons, said: “At Stephensons we only accept applications from internal applicants because it is really important to us to know our potential trainees well.
“After an intense selection process, with 45 initial applicants, 20 progressed to our selection day. Those people went through a gruelling group session and individual interviews. As a result, we have awarded training contracts to eight people.
“The calibre of our candidates was extremely high. Many of our partners started their careers at Stephensons, and have come through the same route as the newly appointed trainees. We are proud to be investing in the future of our firm and our people.”
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