Congratulations to our 2 newly qualified solicitors

2009 began well for Nicola Cooper and Georgia Bull, our most recently qualified solicitors, both of whom began practising as fully qualified solicitors on January 5th 2009 and have now taken up posts in our York office.

Many clients will already be familiar with Georgia (pictured right) and Nicola (pictured below); both started at Ware & Kay in April 2006 and were each awarded July 2007 training contracts. Nicola joins the other solicitors in our Company & Commercial Department whilst Georgia is a solicitor with the Wills & Probate team.

Nicola knew prior to applying to university that she wanted to study law. She had excelled in subjects requiring good analytical and mathematical skills whilst still at school and felt that a career in law was a natural progression. Having already chosen company, banking, commercial property, commercial and employment law as particular areas of study during her degree and Legal Practice Course, Nicola was well suited to her first post at Ware & Kay as a paralegal in the Commercial Department.

Georgia was also intent on pursuing a legal career and after finishing her degree, she completed the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, followed by the Legal Practice Course at York’s College of Law. Like Nicola, Georgia’s first position at Ware & Kay was in the department in which she now works as a fully qualified solicitor. Having chosen ‘Private Client: Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning‘ as one of her study topics, Georgia’s paralegal position in the Wills & Probate department was a very good fit.

Nicola and Georgia both commented on the benefits of working for a firm of Ware & Kay’s size. It offers “a more individual touch” says Nicola, “as well as the opportunity to develop skills in a wide variety of areas, perhaps more than would be possible at one of the big city law firms. Throughout my time at Ware and Kay, the partners and senior members of staff have always been very supportive and accessible”.

Georgia agrees with this, adding that W&K are good at making sure that their trainees get plenty of experience in their areas of particular interest. “They are very supportive of their staff, both professionally and personally,” she comments, going on to say that the staff at Ware & Kay were very friendly and welcoming from the day she joined the firm.

Although we employ plenty of solicitors who didn’t train with us, there are some clear advantages on both sides to our employing those who have. Our trainee solicitors have plenty of time to experience the type of firm we are, the variety of clients we serve and the way in which our work culture operates. In the meantime, we get to know our trainees well and have ample time to establish whether they are a good fit within the firm. Trainees that are retained have the added advantage of already knowing our clients, our computer systems and our staff, which makes for an easier transition into their newly qualified posts.

Nicola’s areas of specialisation are business sales and acquisitions, commercial property and corporate finance. She believes that as a commercial solicitor, it is particularly useful to have a well-rounded business knowledge, as business clients have a wide variety of needs and often require more than one service.

Although Georgia currently offers advice in Will-drafting, dealing with individual’s financial affairs and deceased’s estates, she also looks forward to gaining more knowledge and experience in taxation, in particular inheritance tax, in the future. She commends the firm’s policy which allows her to visit clients in their homes, nursing homes or wherever is most feasible, as she considers that this not only adds a more personal touch but also provides greater possibilities for adapting to the individual client’s needs.

Congratulations to both Nicola and Georgia. We delighted to have them on board at Ware & Kay and wish them every success in their legal careers. You can contact either of them by calling 01904 716000.