A NEWLY qualified solicitor is celebrating after achieving a major career milestone with the support of her colleagues.
Emma Clare, from Carlisle, has joined Bendles Solicitors’ growing litigation team, having started with the firm while studying at university.
She has progressed through training to become a valued member of the team and has now passed her Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
Michael Johnson, Partner at Bendles and Head of Litigation, said Emma’s achievement reflects the legal firm’s commitment to creating opportunities for aspiring legal professionals in Cumbria and supporting career development.
He said: “Emma’s success is a testament to our focus on nurturing talent and building a strong future for the firm.
“At Bendles, we pride ourselves on offering a supportive environment where individuals can grow, learn from experienced colleagues and develop rewarding careers. Our investment in people is central to everything we do.”
Bendles has offices in Carlisle, Wigton and Whitehaven and employs more than 60 people across the three bases.
Emma, 29, said: “Bendles has supported me throughout my training and helped me achieve my ambition of becoming a solicitor and practising locally.
“The team’s expertise and experience are outstanding, and what makes Bendles unique is the working environment. It’s small enough that you know everyone, yet large enough to offer a wide range of knowledge and opportunities.
“We’re treated as individuals, with regular discussions with the firm’s partners about our career goals and how we want to develop. That level of personal support is invaluable.”
After leaving Trinity School in Carlisle, Emma spent a year in Germany before returning to join Futamura in Wigton, where she worked in a German-speaking customer service role.
She later enrolled at Durham University to fulfil her long-held ambition of studying law, combining her studies through distance learning while working part-time at Bendles. Emma became a fully qualified solicitor after completing the two-year SQE course while working full-time at Bendles.
As part of the firm’s litigation team, she deals with employment law issues and civil disputes.
“I enjoy the variety and challenge of litigation,” says Emma. “Working with clients is about more than applying practical legal knowledge of the law, it’s about combining that with listening carefully to the client and finding the right solution for them.”
Established as a family firm more than 200 years ago, Bendles offers expertise in personal and business law for clients across North and West Cumbria.
