We are celebrating a trio of trainees who have qualified as solicitors and are now looking forward to continuing their careers with the firm.
Jack Farrow, Martha Rea and Hannah Little have all successfully completed their training contracts, to become fully qualified solicitors.
Jack is working in the firm’s litigation department and has already struck up excellent working relationships with apprentices he can pass his experience onto.
Jack, 27, said: “I completed my degree at Durham University in 2018. I studied politics and during that time I decided to go into law, based on different work experiences I enjoyed – including some time at Jacksons.
“I continued my studies at the University of Law in Leeds between 2018 and 2019, before taking a year out to work as a paralegal at a firm in Newcastle.
“I left in October 2020 to do my Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the University of Sunderland, which was the final step before getting a training contract.”
During that time, Jack also worked in Middlesbrough Council’s legal department, which added to his experience.
After finishing his LPC, Jack left his role at Middlesbrough Council in April 2022 to take up an 18-month training contract at Jacksons Law Firm.
Due to his experience as a paralegal, his training contract was able to be shortened slightly.
Jack says: “It’s been really good and I have thrived on the responsibility I have been given.
“At Jacksons, you’re able to engage with clients from an early stage in your training.
“The work has sometimes been hard and challenging and you get exposed to a wide range of areas of law, but you also get a lot of support from the partners and other staff.”
Jack has been kept on at Jacksons and will remain in the litigation department and is looking forward to developing his career with Jacksons.
Martha Rea is also over the moon to have qualified as a solicitor, after starting with Jacksons as a paralegal in 2019.
Like Jack, Martha was able to do part time work as she studied for her LPC and Masters and she began her training contract in 2022.
“I have had seats in residential conveyancing, employment law, litigation and family law,” says Martha.
“Because I’d been at Jacksons so long I found the transitions between departments easy and I settled into the different teams well.
“I have always felt comfortable with everyone and the supportive atmosphere at Jacksons has really helped me.
“The place has got a very homely and family feel to it and you feel very welcome, at ease and valued.”
She adds: “Throughout my whole time here, there’s never been a day when I’ve come into work and not felt supported.
“I’ve always had the full support of everyone around me up to partner level, which has been brilliant.”
Martha is now looking forward to continuing her work in the employment department at Jacksons.
Hannah Little has also qualified as a solicitor.
When she first went to University, Hannah wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but she knew the skills she would learn in studying law would be useful.
“Once I started studying, I really enjoyed it,” she said.
“I studied at Northumbria University and the course was quite practical.
“I started working as a secretary at Jacksons when I graduated and a year later, in January 2022, I got my training contract.”
Hannah has worked in the corporate department, residential conveyancing and commercial property.
She will now continue working in the commercial property team at Jacksons.
“I knew that I wanted to qualify into the department within my first six months,” she said.
“I enjoy the transactional elements to property, so I’m delighted to have qualified into commercial property.”
Hannah, who lives in Norton, will now work between the firm’s Newcastle and Teesside offices.
“I am thrilled to be working between our two offices because I enjoy spending time in Newcastle where I studied, as well as Teesside,” she said.
“It’s a really nice place to work and you get a lot of support from all staff.
“Everyone is approachable and you can ask anyone for help when you need it.
“I am looking forward to increasing my confidence in my role and developing my knowledge further.”
Toby Joel, partner at Jacksons Law, said the firm was delighted to have a hat trick of qualifying solicitors in a short space of time.
“Jack has worked in my department right the way through his training contract and qualified as a solicitor there, but he first came to us on a work placement from Macmillan Academy in 2015,” Toby said.
“I’ve seen a lot of him growing up and he’s now a good solicitor, developing into a role he does very well.
“I also interviewed Hannah and Martha for their training contracts and it’s always pleasing when you’ve interviewed a potential trainee to see them qualify.
“It’s always good to see newly qualified solicitors coming through after years of hard work and it is especially pleasing when they decide to stay with us and we have a role for them to continue working in.”
Pictured L-R: Jack Farrow, Toby Joel, Martha Rea, Hannah Little, Tony Wentworth, Erica Turner.
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