A trainee programme at a professional law firm in Shropshire is flourishing, with managers pledging to continue their commitment to developing talent.
The latest trainee solicitor to join Lanyon Bowdler is Lucy Todd, who is currently based in the commercial property department but will gain experience across all of the firm’s specialist areas during her contract.
Lucy read Law and Criminology at the University of Sheffield and graduated in 2012 before completing her postgraduate legal practice course in June 2013 at the University of Law, Birmingham, achieving a Distinction grade.
Prior to joining Lanyon Bowdler, she worked as a paralegal in Birmingham, gaining experience in both criminal and family law.
Brian Evans, managing partner at Lanyon Bowdler, said attracting and retaining talented professionals in Shropshire was a big challenge for businesses and law firms in particular.
He said: “Recruiting good talent, and of course encouraging them to stay on, is increasingly difficult for many businesses.
“We have always been very keen to continue and grow our trainee solicitor programme, even during the difficult years of recession when some other law firms reduced theirs, because we acknowledge that our staff are our biggest asset.
“As a firm, we are committed to growing talent from grass roots with our training programme and in response to an upsurge in demand for our services, accelerated Lucy’s recruitment, and will have another two trainees starting in September.
“Part of our commitment to attracting talented and professional people to Shropshire has seen us become a founder member of the Telford Professional Services Focus Group, which brings together law, accountancy and other professional firms to take a joined-up approach to the issue.”
The focus group is led by Telford Business Board sector champion for professional services, Neil Phillips, and feeds into the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership to help set local priorities.
Lucy Todd
