Gardner Leader

Opportunities for Women to ‘make a difference’ at Gardner Leader

Gardner Leader Solicitors has benefited immensely over the last few years from its investment in training highly motivated and key personnel.  Its 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, qualify 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 says “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 comments: “From my experience of working at Gardner Leader, I decided to go on to study at Guildford College of Law and once I had passed the Legal Practice Course (LPC), I returned to Gardner Leader as a Trainee Solicitor”

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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.

Jo Tovey joined the firm for work experience when only 15. Jo explains: “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 in Guildford and was delighted when Gardner Leader offered me a Training Contract”.
Jo 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 Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Guildford she started a training contract with the firm. Lucy comments: “I have enjoyed an extensive training programme and I am delighted to qualify on 17th March 2008, when I will become an Assistant Solicitor in the Inheritance Protection Team”.

Each of the ladies has 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.

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