Graduate trainees set to make their mark at Watson Burton

The graduates have joined the firm’s graduate training programme, which provides high level training and a comprehensive introduction to law.

During the course of the two-year programme, the trainees will have the opportunity to work across Watson Burton’s key practice areas, including corporate and commercial, real estate, construction and engineering, professional indemnity insurance, employment and commercial litigation.

The programme will cover four six month rotations across Watson Burton’s national groups and each trainee will be supported by an experienced mentor.

Northumbria University graduates Olivia Coulson, from Durham and Francesca Hawker, from Scarborough, York University graduates Sarah Stubbs, from Lanchester and Jane Robertson, from Sunderland, and Leeds University graduate Katy Ames, from Whitley Bay, have all been awarded training contracts.

Commenting on the traineeship, Sarah Stubbs, said:  “Watson Burton is a large firm with a fantastic reputation: it is a place where you can progress as a trainee and thrive in your career, and I was delighted to be awarded a place on the graduate trainee programme.”

Francesca Hawker commented: “I first met the Watson Burton team at a careers fair, they were really friendly towards me and as a result I wanted to know more about the firm. I’ve seen first-hand that Watson Burton has a close-knit, family feel to it and the partners are very supportive.”

Olivia Coulson added: “At Watson Burton, you are encouraged to grow as a professional and they help you get the best out of your traineeship. The firm is committed to investing in the next generation and I’m looking forward to supporting the team on high level legal work and launching my legal career here.”

Commenting on the latest round of graduate trainee appointments, Duncan Reid, partner and training principal at Watson Burton, said: “We’re looking forward to helping Olivia, Francesca, Sarah, Jane and Katy build their careers in law and seeing them play their part in delivering legal services to a wide array of clients. The new trainees all have a true passion for commercial law and it’s exciting to have them on board at Watson Burton.

“Our graduate training programme provides a fantastic opportunity for aspiring legal professionals to develop their careers and expertise, and gain ‘hands on’ experience of real client work.

“Many of our partners and senior staff started with us as graduate trainees and have been able to progress with the firm and become specialists in a range of disciplines: this demonstrates the success of our training programme, and I am sure that the new intake of graduates will go on to have equally rich and rewarding careers in law.”

Watson Burton, which also has offices in Leeds and London, delivers commercial legal services nationwide. Its core practice areas are corporate, employment, real estate, construction and dispute resolution.

Applications are now open for next year’s graduate training programme. For more information, visit www.watsonburtongraduates.com