Leading commercial law firm Muckle LLP has appointed five new trainee solicitors and one solicitor apprentice, taking the firm’s total of budding lawyers in training to 19.
As trainees, Eleanor Amies-King, Annie Bell, Pippa Garden, Louis Hutton and Megan McCaughey will gain experience in four teams over their two-year training contracts. Cassie Woodier, the firm’s newest solicitor apprentice, will spend six years training with a variety of teams while completing her studies part-time.
Annie, Louis and Megan are all from the North East and attended university here, whilst Teesside-born Cassie joins us after completing her A-Levels at Yarm School.
The remaining cohort members – Eleanor, from Tadcaster, and Edinburgh-born Pippa – have chosen to remain in the North East after completing postgraduate studies at Newcastle University.
All trainees completed the vacation scheme at Muckle prior to securing training contracts, whilst Cassie had undertaken work experience at the firm before becoming a solicitor apprentice through the North East Solicitor Apprenticeship scheme.
Pippa completed the University of Law’s PGDL and LLM at Newcastle University after studying business management at the University of Aberdeen. She joins our construction team. She is already feeling settled at Muckle and commented: “The people and the support (both professional and personal) are some of the key reasons I applied here. Everyone has been so welcoming and I’m really looking forward to growing my professional network over the next two years.”
Annie is from County Durham and completed her undergraduate degree and LPC LLM at Newcastle University. She is taking her first seat in our employment team. She credits the culture at Muckle as a key reason for her application. She says: “When applying for training contracts, Muckle’s commitment to people really stood out for me; everyone is accepted for who they are and empowered to do what’s right for them. I’m excited to learn from some of the fantastic lawyers here over the next two years.”
Northumbria University MLaw graduate Megan joins our corporate team. She is delighted to be back in the North East after living in London for a year. She commented: “I completed the vacation scheme at Muckle twice, and I’m pleased that everyone is as friendly and supportive as I remembered. I’m hoping to get involved in our community work, such as joining the community team and supporting with pro bono advice.”
Fellow MLaw at Northumbria graduate Louis is taking his first seat in real estate. He also shares the firm’s passion for ESG, particularly inspiring the younger generation, and said: “I wanted to work for a local law firm that had a strong focus on giving back to the community, and Muckle was the perfect choice. I’d love the opportunity to undertake some charity work as well as visit schools like mine to encourage others to consider a legal career.”
Eleanor is joining Louis in the real estate team. She completed her LLB at Lancaster University but moved to the North East to study the University of Law’s MA at Newcastle University. She said, “I have wanted to be a lawyer since my early teens, and I’m excited to finally be starting my legal career. I’ve undertaken work experience at a few different legal firms, but as soon as I completed Muckle’s vacation scheme, I knew I wanted to train here.”
Cassie Woodier joins us immediately after completing her A-Levels this summer. She credits the supportive culture at Muckle in helping her smoothly transition from education to work, saying “It can be a bit daunting to start your first ever job, but everyone has been so kind and helpful. I chose the solicitor apprenticeship because I wanted to gain real-life work experience alongside studying, and I’m excited to see what the next few years will bring.”
Jason Wainwright, managing partner at Muckle, said: “Investing in new talent is so important to the future of Muckle, and I am delighted to welcome these six aspiring lawyers to the firm.
“Many of our partners, associates and solicitors began their journeys here as trainees, and we are committed to providing the same opportunities for development and success to the next generation. I have no doubt that Annie, Cassie, Eleanor, Louis, Megan and Pippa will excel in their careers here.”
Muckle is renowned for its commitment to developing legal talent through trainee and solicitor apprenticeship programmes.