Trainee Solicitor at Mayo Wynne Baxter Lucy Parkinson has been appointed as a mentor for The College of Law mentoring Scheme. Lucy received a Distinction at The College of Law in Guildford before joining Mayo Wynne Baxter in 2008. She currently works in the Commercial Property Department, specialising in Agricultural Law, whilst also studying the LLM part time through the College of Law.
The scheme runs from November to April with the aim to help students who have had little experience of the legal profession and who consequently lack the insight and confidence they need in order to be successful in securing a career in law. Lucy Parkinson will act as a key contact for a student assisting with discussions on areas of practice, CV’s, application forms, application strategy and interview preparation. Lucy worked in the Family and Residential Property Department before joining the Commercial Property Department enabling her to have an in depth experience of the three different aspects of law which will greatly benefit her mentee.
Students on the scheme are likely to include some from more diverse backgrounds as they may have encountered barriers to entry into the profession. The scheme fits well with The Colleges commitment to encouraging diversity within its student body. Students are asked to state three areas of legal practise that interests them and are matched accordingly to the mentor, Lucy has been assigned a student who would like to pursue a career in Family Law.
The benefits to the students in the scheme are invaluable. The awareness of life in practice and the skills and qualities required will not only enhance their theoretical knowledge but also prepare them for the role as a Trainee Solicitor. The self confidence gained is also considerable; one student stated “speaking to someone within the profession gave me a realistic and grounded insight into the requirements of a trainee solicitor. Contact with a mentor gave me confidence to keep going at times when I felt everything was stacked against me.”
Lucy Parkinson is delighted to have been appointed the position as a mentor and said “Having the chance to come back to The College of Law and helping others is very exciting. Not only will it continue my professional development but I will be able to give something back to others. I am very much looking forward to be part of the highly successful mentoring scheme”.
For more information, please contact Lucy Parkinson on lparkinson@mayowynnebaxter.co.uk.
