INTERN SUCCESSES LEAD TO FIVE NEW HIRES AT FIELDINGS PORTER

Fieldings Porter Solicitors’ inaugural Summer Vacation Programme has been a resounding success leading to five new appointments for the Bolton and Manchester full service firm. The programme, which is open to all university students or graduates, sees students employed for a three month period over the summer on a full time paid basis. Students work closely with lawyers and other members of staff at Fieldings Porter to learn the ropes in a law firm and allow them to take on a support role which includes the opportunity to carry out additional legal tasks under supervision.

This year Fieldings Porter received over 60 applications for the scheme and after a series of interviews seven students, from seven different universities were successfully chosen to take part;  Teigan Wilde of University of Huddersfield and William Lomax of University of Central Lancashire assisted the Litigation Team; Lucy Simpson of Leeds Becket University and 30 year old mother Savannah Moore of Manchester Metropolitan University assisted the Commercial and Property Team; Beth Talbot of University of Law and history student Martha Norman-Long of University of Manchester assisted the Criminal and Family Teams; and Mehvish Ashraf assisted the Private Client Team.

Following a successful summer the firm made the decision to appoint five of the interns to Paralegal Positions. Lucy Simpson joins the Commercial and Property Team and Beth Talbot joins the Criminal Team on a Part-Time Basis whilst studying their post graduate Legal Practice Course at University of Law, Manchester. William Lomax joins the Litigation Team part time whilst studying his Legal Practice Course at University of Central Lancashire and Martha Norman-Long and Mehvish Ashraf join the Criminal and Private Client Teams respectively on a full time basis.

Savannah Moore and Teigan Wilde return to their universities to complete their full time undergraduate studies before returning to the firm next year on the Summer Vacation Programme.

Feedback from the scheme this year has been positive. Beth Talbot states “I was shocked at how much responsibility you are given on the scheme”, Mehvish Ashraf adds “from the first week you get a practical experience” with Lucy Simpson commenting that “Fieldings Porter will encourage and motivate you to work at your best. Employees are highly valued and the workforce upholds high morale.”  Savannah Moore comments of the scheme that “As a mature student with family responsibilities I find it difficult to carry out unpaid legal work for more than a few days at a time. The summer internship is a great way for students to gain substantial experience in a long established, highly recommended law firm that covers a wide range of legal services.”

Martha Norman-Long praised the scheme “as a non-law student I did not feel at all disadvantaged at the firm compared to the other interns and I feel the internship has definitely prepared me for beginning work as a paralegal and I am excited and grateful that I get to stay and continue working at the firm.”

Scheme organisers, David Darlington and Jennifer Moorhouse, both Associate Solicitors at the firm, reflect on the successes this year with David commenting “we are very proud of our interns this year, the standard of applications was extremely high and it is testament to the interns that we were able to go to the partners with a business case to employ all of them either now, or in the future. The interns assisted the firm greatly over the summer months when staff started to take holidays and they have worked hard with us demonstrating their ability and how they will be an asset to the firm for years to come. We wish them every success in their careers and welcome them into the Fieldings Porter family.”

Applications for the Summer Vacation Programme 2020 are now open with applicants required to provide a CV and covering letter to placements@fieldingsporter.co.uk by 29^th February 2020. The scheme will run from 1^st June 2020 to Friday 28^th August 2020. Interviews will take place the weeks commencing 6^th and 13^th April 2020.