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17 February 2020
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Stephens Scown—Lexie Williams

South West law firm breaks new ground

Stephens Scown LLP has recently announced that Lexie Williams will be their first solicitor apprentice. Lexie joined the firm’s corporate team in December last year and began her solicitor apprenticeship with The University of Law in January 2020.

Lexie’s type of apprenticeship is a first for the firm, as it means that she can come in without a legal degree and progress through her course to qualify as a solicitor at the end of it. 

Explaining what brought her into law, Lexie said: ‘I have a history degree from Exeter University, but have always been interested in law so this apprenticeship is a perfect fit. I met with Stephens Scown’s recruitment team at a recent careers fair and we started talking about the solicitor apprentice opportunity; the rest is history!’
 
Talking about joining Stephens Scown and how her course works, Lexie added: ‘The firm has been brilliant at making me feel included. Colleagues have taken time to help me understand all the different legal systems that we use, and I have been given legal work which has let me gain my first taste of life as an apprentice solicitor. I really appreciate the responsibility I have been given and look forward to developing my skills further.'
 
Richard Baker, managing partner at Stephens Scown commented: ‘We know from experience how valuable apprenticeships are to the firm, as all our apprentices have brought in fresh ideas and proven themselves as assets, while constantly improving through their training and learning. Stephens Scown is committed to supporting apprentices from their first day all the way through to qualification and beyond, and I am proud that we have expanded our offering to apprentices in the South West through the solicitor apprenticeship.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Commercial firm strengthens real estate disputes team with associate hire

Switalskis—three appointments

Switalskis—three appointments

Firm appoints three directors to board

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Six promoted to partner and one to legal director across UK and Ireland offices

NEWS

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Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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