What is a Section 278 Agreement?

A Section 278 Agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a highway authority to carry out highway works.

Alicia Clutsam Qualifies As A Solicitor At Wollens

We are delighted to announce that Alicia Clutsam has qualified as a Solicitor at Wollens, marking the culmination of a remarkable and determined journey into the legal profession.

Alicia’s route to qualification has been anything but traditional. She began her law degree at London South Bank University in 2007, but like many graduates, the path into a legal career was not straightforward. After completing her studies, Alicia gained valuable workplace experience across a range of roles, including customer-facing positions in retail and hospitality, as well as administrative support within a business centre group managing office rentals.

Her first formal legal role came in 2011 when she joined Patterson Law as a Case Progression Officer. In this role, she worked closely with clients accused of driving offences, managing her own caseload and regularly instructing counsel to represent clients at trial and on appeal. This period was pivotal in shaping her practical legal skills and confirming her commitment to a career in law.

Alicia Clutsam, Solicitor

While working at Patterson Law, Alicia also started her family and went on to have two children. After leaving the firm shortly before the birth of her second child, she made the decision to remain at home longer than planned to support her son, who has additional needs. Although Alicia had initially hoped to qualify via CILEX, this route did not come to fruition, and with no clear way to fund the Legal Practice Course, she very nearly stepped away from her legal ambitions altogether.

A turning point came in 2019 when Alicia discovered she was eligible for a student loan if she enrolled on a Master’s programme. Determined to continue, she began the Master’s in Advanced Legal Practice at the University of the West of England (UWE), which incorporated the LPC. Like many students at the time, Alicia completed much of her course online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including all assessments and exams.

While studying part-time, Alicia successfully applied for a Paralegal position at Wollens and joined the firm in November 2020. She graduated from UWE in 2024 with her Master’s degree, including the LPC, and shortly afterwards commenced her training contract.

Alicia has now qualified as a Solicitor and is thoroughly enjoying her role within the Wollens Family Law Team. She works in the Care Team, assisting parents locally as well as supporting Victoria Harle and Rachel Carter on non-accidental injury cases – complex and often highly sensitive matters involving allegations such as fractures, bruising and shaken baby syndrome. The team supports parents across the country and has a wealth of specialist expertise in this challenging area of law.

Rachel Carter, Head of the Family Law Team at Wollens said “Alicia has worked in the Family team for over five years and has a natural ability in child protection and care work. It has been great to see her development during that time and see the dedication she shows to her clients”.

More information about the work undertaken by Alicia, Rachel, Victoria and the non-accidental injury team can be found on the https://www.parentsaccused.co.uk.