Business Profile
Gardner Leader: The women making a difference at law firm
13th March 2008
GARDNER Leader has benefited immensely over the last few years from its investment in training highly-motivated and key personnel.
The solicitor’s outward success and inward growth is reflected by its ability to attract high-calibre individuals, train them and, upon qualification as solicitors, retain these individuals over all areas of its practice.
Charlotte Anns, Julie Taylor, Joanne Tovey and Lucy Samara have all been recruited by Gardner Leader over the last five years and have all now successfully, or are about to, qualified as solicitors.
Charlotte Anns began as a paralegal in the residential conveyancing team in June 2004. In September 2005, she started a training contract, spending time in the family, inheritance protection and residential conveyancing teams and has now qualified as a conveyancing solicitor.
Charlotte said: “I enjoyed the challenge of residential conveyancing work due to the variety, pace and interaction with clients and other professionals. In March 2007, I qualified as a solicitor and was pleased to join the Thatcham residential conveyancing team. At Gardner Leader, I found the transition from trainee to qualified solicitor was made easier because of the high level of training I received and the support provided within the firm.”
Julie Taylor, now a solicitor in the employment team, joined Gardner Leader in September 2003 after graduating from Keele University with an LLB in law and politics.
Julie commented: “From my experience of working at Gardner Leader, I decided to go on to study at The College of Law. Guildford, and once I had passed the Legal Practice Course (LPC), I returned to Gardner Leader as a trainee solicitor.”
Julie qualified in March 2007 and accepted a position at Gardner Leader. She now has a rapidly growing caseload dealing exclusively with employment law work.
Joanne Tovey joined the firm for work experience when she was only 15 years old.
She explained: “The work experience confirmed my desire to pursue a career in law. In 2004 I became a paralegal in the residential conveyancing team after completing my law degree at the University of Essex. In September 2004, I began my LPC part-time at The College of Law. Guildford, and was delighted when Gardner Leader offered me a training contract.”
Joanne qualified in September 2007 and returned to the Newbury residential conveyancing team as a solicitor.
Lucy Samara, trainee solicitor in the inheritance protection team, also started with Gardner Leader as a work experience student. After completing the LPC at The College of Law. Guildford, she started a training contract with the firm.
Lucy commented: “I have enjoyed an extensive training programme and I am delighted to qualify on March 17, when I will become an assistant solicitor in the inheritance protection team.”
Each of the women have now found their niche in areas of law that they enjoy and have all grown into valuable members of the Gardner Leader team.
With further experience under their belts, they can look forward to fulfilling and prosperous long-term careers with the law firm, rising through the ranks of associate and, hopefully, eventually becoming a partner.
Some of the team at Gardner Leader: from the left, Charlotte Anns, Julie Taylor, Lucy Samara and Joanne Tovey.
Gardner Leader, Newbury office
White Hart House, Market Place, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5BA
Gardner Leader, Thatcham office
Winbolt House, The Broadway, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 4HX
Tel: (01635) 508080
Web: www.gardner-leader.co.uk
Email: mail@gardner-leader.co.uk
