Wollens Welcomes Five New Trainee Solicitors

We are delighted to welcome five new Trainee Solicitors to Wollens as they begin the next stage of their legal careers with the firm.

Each trainee brings a unique background, specialist interests and valuable experience to their respective teams, reflecting the breadth of talent being developed across Wollens. From private client and care work to dispute resolution, employment and sports law, they represent the future of legal practice across the firm.

As part of their induction, the trainees attended the University of Law in London, where they met fellow trainee solicitors from across the country and officially embarked on the next stage of their legal careers.

Over the coming years, the trainees will undertake a comprehensive and demanding programme combining academic study with practical legal experience. This includes a structured study day each week to prepare for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), covering the full breadth of legal knowledge required for SQE1, alongside the practical skills assessed in SQE2, such as advocacy, interviewing, legal drafting and client care.

In addition, they will complete a range of research projects and presentations tailored to their chosen practice areas as part of their legal apprenticeship, culminating in the achievement of a Level 5 Postgraduate Legal Apprenticeship qualification.

While the programme is rigorous, it offers an exceptional opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to thrive within the legal profession. By combining high-quality academic training with hands-on experience in practice, the trainees will be well placed to qualify as confident and capable solicitors.

Charlotte Norris joins our Private Client team after progressing through the firm from Paralegal to Trainee Solicitor. A graduate of the University of Exeter, Charlotte has developed valuable experience supporting clients with wills, trusts and estate planning matters and is passionate about delivering tailored, client-focused advice.

Katie Leary is undertaking her training within our Regulatory team, specialising in sports and employment law. Katie joined Wollens after completing a placement year as part of her law degree at the University of Exeter with both Wollens and Exeter City Football Club, where she gained exceptional experience working with athletes, clubs and sporting organisations, including helping to establish Exeter City Football Club’s first in-house legal function. Her area of work ranges from commercial contracts and employment disputes to sports disciplinaries and transfer agreements.

Lauren Bowens is based in our Exeter Dispute Resolution team. Since joining Wollens after graduating from the University of Warwick, Lauren has been involved in a wide range of contentious matters, supporting the team with everything from legal research to witness summons and enjoying the variety that dispute resolution work offers.

Leah McDonald is training within our specialist Care and Capacity team. Leah graduated from Strathclyde University with a first-class honours degree in Scottish and English Law. Having joined Wollens as a Legal Assistant before progressing to Paralegal and now Trainee Solicitor, Leah works closely with individuals and families navigating sensitive and complex capacity issues, as well as assisting clients with Lasting Powers of Attorney, future planning and complex Court of Protection matters.

Carmen Sutton has returned to Wollens as a Trainee Solicitor in the Private Client department after achieving a First-Class Law degree from the University of the West of England and receiving the University’s Third Year Commendation Prize for Outstanding Achievement. Having first joined Wollens in 2023 as a Secretary, Carmen has built a strong foundation in private client work and specialises in Probate and Estate Administration. She is passionate about providing clear, accessible advice and supporting families through what can often be challenging times.

At Wollens, we are committed to investing in the next generation of legal professionals and providing opportunities for talented individuals to develop their skills, gain practical experience and build rewarding careers.

We are excited to support Charlotte, Katie, Lauren, Leah and Carmen throughout their training contracts and look forward to seeing their careers flourish. We wish them every success as they continue their journey with Wollens.

You can also complete an online enquiry form. One of the Wollens team will contact you as soon as they are available.