New Trainee Solicitors & New Pupil Barristers Reception 2021

On Tuesday 19th October, the National Justice Museum opened its doors to the New Trainee Solicitors and New Pupil Barristers reception for 2021. The last time we visited the museum for such an important event in the Society's calendar was 2019.

This event is so important for the new trainees and pupils to attend, giving them the opportunity to meet with their fellow legal professionals, make new connections, exchange stories of training and basically establish a network of future colleagues that they will probably meet from now on as they progress in the world of law in Nottinghamshire.

The reception started with drinks in the main reception area, followed by presentations in the Grand Court Room, beginning with the welcome from President Philip Turton, where he shared a brief history of how the Nottinghamshire Law Society was born in 1875 by a group of solicitors, that firms still exist in Nottingham today.

Education and Training Committee Chair, Helen Fanning discussed the various competitions the Society holds for the junior lawyers, including the President's Cup competition, which was launched at the beginning of October. The famous negotiation competition is the first competition in the Society's calendar and present at the reception were the 2020 finalist Katherine Goodman, from Eversheds-Sutherland and Ka Man Shing the winner from Browne Jacobson. Ka Man Shing shared her experiences of entering the competition and achieving success at the first round, finding herself although entering the competition on a whim, at the final!

Daniel Harley, International Committee Chair explained how Nottinghamshire Law Society is linked with the legal worlds of Karlsruhe, Germany and Ghent, Belgium. As a Society, we offer an exchange programme for the Nottinghamshire Junior Lawyers to experience European law in Karlsruhe and Ghent, a rare opportunity that many local law societies offer their members.

Andrew Dennis, Chair of the NJLD shared the benefits of being a member of the active Nottingham Junior Lawyers Division, a group of legal professionals that meet monthly and have plenty planned for the remaining months of 2021, including a Winter Ball on November 12th.

Closing remarks and thanks to our sponsors Fresh Professional Development and the National Justice Museum for their hospitality were given by Philip Turton, after which everyone moved to the Grand Jury room for drinks and canapes and lots of conversation.  This year was the first year we had over 75+ in attendance and it was great to see representation from nearly all our member firms.

Trainees Solicitors and Pupil Barristers were present from the following firms and chambers:

Actons Solicitors - Browne Jacobson - Buckles Solicitors LLP - Cartwright King - Crown Prosecution Service - Elliot Mather LLP - Eversheds-Sutherland - Gateley Legal 

Gregsons Solicitors - Hawley & Rodgers - Hopkins Solicitors - Kirkland & Lane - Massers - MJC Law - Nelsons Solicitors - Ropewalk Chambers - Rotheras - Shacklocks LLP

Shoosmiths LLP - 1 High Pavement