THE INS AND OUTS OF A BUSINESS APPRENTICESHIP.

THE INS AND OUTS OF A BUSINESS APPRENTICESHIP

Emmie Bradley joined the Wills and Probate team at Hatchers in December 2022 to continue her Level 3 Business and Administration apprenticeship.

Below, she describes The Ins and Outs of a Business Apprenticeship

I have been an apprentice since September 2021. This has been a very eye-opening experience and I have learnt so much. It has solidified my ambition to go into the law sector. The qualification I am doing is Business and Administration Level 3; it’s an 18-month long course which I am due to complete around March 2023. I believe an apprenticeship is an amazing thing to do due to the fact you get experience and qualifications at the same time, which is why after completion of this course I would like to do a degree apprenticeship. You gain basic skills and experience that employers will look for that someone who went to college or university may not have gained from short work experience placements. It all depends on you and how you think you work best. Some people find the social aspect and support from an educational environment helpful when they are doing qualifications, on the other hand some people such as myself find a practical workplace environment is where they thrive. If you or your children have ever thought that college isn’t for them/you then an apprenticeship is most definitely a great thing to consider.

I attend Telford College every Wednesday afternoon for a study class, which means I have a teacher on hand to help with anything I am struggling with. Any work that I do during the time I am studying in and out of college counts towards my qualification. This includes my portfolio (thoroughly explaining where I work and all the work tasks I am doing that will count towards my apprenticeship), a grading table that I will use to support me in my end interview saying how I have met all the criteria, keeping my off the job log up to date (20% of my time should be dedicated to training, college work and things relating to my apprenticeship), project plan (another part of the apprenticeship is to do a project that will have a positive impact on the workplace), knowledge revision (it is vital to have up to date knowledge for the knowledge test at the end of the apprenticeship) and much more!

I have an assigned assessor from Telford college who gives me everything I need to be doing and everything I need to know; we meet to review my progress and then have an action plan that I will complete to ensure I keep up to date and not fall behind with my work. I also have my mentor at Hatchers who supports me in the workplace and meets with my assessor from college to make sure everything is correct and that I am progressing as I should be. Hatchers have been very supportive with my apprenticeship and have ensured I have been given training for my off the job log, daily tasks that count towards my portfolio and criteria, and giving me time for my college work to be completed. 

Hatchers

Solicitors News.

Rebecca Carter

Congratulations to Rebecca Carter, who has started her training contract with the firm. Rebecca joined Hatchers in August 2021, initially on a temporary contract to help with administration support, and in due course took up a role as Legal Executive within the Dispute Resolution team.

Michelle Simmonds

Rebecca Carter

Rebecca graduated from the University of Liverpool with a degree in Law with Criminology, and studied for her LPC at the University of Law in Chester. Rebecca’s first seat will be within the Employment Law team, based at the Shrewsbury office.

Welcome to Michelle Simmonds who joins Hatchers as Executive within the Wills and Probate team at the Shrewsbury office. Michelle has practiced law in Shropshire for almost two decades, and is an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. Her expertise is within Private client work, including wills, estate administration and lasting powers of attorney. 

Louise Howard

MEET FODENS’ NEW PERSONAL SERVICES EXPERT

Fodens Solicitors are committed to guiding you through life’s legalities with expert advice. As part of this, they are always looking for experienced professionals to join them and are delighted to welcome Louise Howard to the team!

Listed in the Legal 500’s 2023 publication as a ‘Rising Star,’ Louise was described by clients as ‘an outstanding advocate’ during their research. Meanwhile, Chambers and Partners have also ranked Louise as an ‘Associate to Watch,’ with clients describing her as ‘dedicated, knowledgeable and caring.’

Here is Louise with more details on her area of expertise and how she plans to support clients.

“Since leaving a large regional practice to join Fodens in 2022, I have loved getting to know our clients. Specialising in Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), Probate and Estate Administration, I am here to offer clear advice without all the jargon.

Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE)

“As a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), I want to reassure any clients that I take great pride in offering support to elderly and vulnerable individuals. It is an honour

to be part of this specialist group of lawyers and I take immense care to build trusting relationships with all my clients.

Wills & LPAs

“Wills and LPAs are fundamental documents for planning ahead. If you want to ensure that both you and your loved ones will be looked after, then it is essential that you seek professional legal advice. These are complex legal documents and if done incorrectly, your wishes could be disregarded.

Estate planning

“We also offer advice on available gifting allowances for inheritance tax planning, or if you are responsible for administering a loved one’s estate, then we can make sure everything is handled correctly for HMRC. These steps can maximise the estate and reduce tax bills, while making sure that everything is done by the legal book.

Creating plans for peace of mind

“Every person’s situation is different, so I always take the time needed to understand your position and what you want to achieve. Whether that be tax planning to maximise your estate or ensuring you have someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf, we want to help you put together a plan that gives you peace of mind.” 

From Apprentice to Paralegal/Trainee

I am currently working in the Private Client team assisting Sophie Price and Louise Howard on various matters including, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Estate Administration and Deputyship Applications.

I began my journey in Law on my first day at Shrewsbury Sixth Form, studying Law as one of my A levels. After my first day I knew that my heart was set on becoming a Lawyer. When the time came to decide what I wanted to do after I left Sixth Form and friends were applying for university it just didn’t appeal to me.

At this time I was not aware that an apprenticeship in Law was something that would be available to me, I thought that my only option was to take the traditional route of going to university.

However, upon searching for an apprenticeship I came across Fodens. I started my apprenticeship in July 2019 which I completed in July 2021.

Following this, I decided that I still wanted to obtain my Law degree and found The Open University. All of my studying is online and I am currently in my second year.

I have been very lucky to have so much support from Fodens, family and friends as this route to becoming a Lawyer is certainly not an easy one, particularly with trying to juggle work and study, but it is a rewarding challenge.

I have already gained a wealth of experience and knowledge, and I am excited to see what the future holds for my career in Law and with Fodens.