Ashfords recruits Exeter University's top law student Kirsty Cooke
Introduction
The University of Exeter's top Legal Practice Course (LPC) student for 2006, Kirsty Cooke from Barnstaple, is joining local lawyers Ashfords as a trainee solicitor in the city.
Kirsty, who was educated at South Molton College and whose family live in North Devon, gained distinctions in every subject across the board in her LPC exams this summer. She was already set to become an Ashfords trainee before her remarkable law exam results were known.
She will now be put forward for the prestigious Sir George Fowler Prize for the country's top law student taking up a local training contract. Exeter University are also putting Kirsty forward for the national Law Society Prize.
Last year, the Sir George Fowler Prize was also won by another new Ashfords trainee, Jane Offley, making it two in a row for the law firm.
Ashfords have 12 new trainees starting this September, of whom five have worked with the firm previously as paralegals, setting a growing trend for the firm.
In addition to Kirsty Cooke, a number of this year's trainees took their LPC exams in Exeter this Summer and Karen Dunstone, Elizabeth Pill, Lian Langton and Natalie Todd all obtained merits or distinctions.
All of the trainees will now spend the next two years working in four different 'seats' of the law at different Ashfords offices, covering a variety of legal work to acquire a broad range of skills before they both qualify.
Commenting on her achievement, Kirsty Cooke said: "I'm obviously thrilled by having achieved such good results in my exams and looking forward to taking up my training contract at the end of the Summer.
"Having worked for Ashfords before, I know that their training is second to none and am delighted to be going back to the firm."
Ashfords recently won a prestigious legal 'Oscar' having being named 'Best Trainer' in a nationwide poll of some 2,500 trainees and newly qualified solicitors from law firms around the country.
Ashfords training partner Charles Pallot comments: "Ashfords enjoys an excellent reputation in attracting and developing top quality legal recruits and, with Kirsty Cooke and our other Exeter University trainees joining us in September, we really have got the cream of the local crop.
"Exam standards are always very high at Exeter University's Centre for Legal Practice, so getting a distinction in any legal subject is a considerable achievement, let alone in all of them as Kirsty has done!
"Trainees tell us that they like our hard-working, friendly approach, plus the wide range of quality legal work on offer, so we're delighted to welcome them all to the firm.
"This year, we have a record number of trainee solicitors with 23 working in the firm's five offices across the region, including 14 in Exeter, two in Bristol, one in Taunton , and three each in Plymouth and Tiverton."
Ashfords trainees carry out a two-year training contract and most, if not all, sign up as qualified solicitors at the end of their training in one of the firm's offices.
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