Paige Robson and Emily Skinner take their next career step today as they begin their respective training contract.

Paige has been working in the Personal Injury department as a Fee Earner, with Emily a Fee Earner in the Serious and Technical Injury Team.

Both went through the application process, with the pair impressing those involved, including Training Principal and Associate Director Jo Amos.

She said: “Emily and Paige both thoroughly deserve to have been selected for training contracts. Emily impressed me (and many others) with how quickly she settled into Winns and then with her hard work and excellent performance when she worked for me in the Complex Claims Team.

“I am really pleased that Paige has been successful as she has worked very hard to reach this point in her career and I am sure she will make the most of the opportunity to extend her legal knowledge and experience over the next two years.”

David Dewar, Head of Commercial and Contested Litigation, said: “Emily and Paige should rightly be proud in securing training contracts, especially as they have done so when pitched against so many other strong applicants.

“I’m glad that I was not faced with having to make what must have been very, very difficult choices for the selection panel!

“I recall Emily immediately impressed Rebecca Colby and I when we first interviewed her for a paralegal role in the then Part 7 Department. We knew that was not misplaced when she settled cases in her first week. I and her Team Leader Dawn Catchpole were disappointed to lose her to the Complex Team but I’m delighted to be working with Emily again as supervisor for her serious injury cases. 

“Paige was a relatively new Legal Assistant when I joined Winn Solicitors in August 2019. However, due to her effort and dedication, she swiftly progressed to a paralegal role.

“Her continued hard work, tenacity and determination have been fundamental to her growth as a lawyer over the last few years.

“I look forward to seeing Emily and Paige progress in the next phase of their legal careers.”  

We took a bit of their time to find out about the next chapter in their careers.

What does it mean to you to earn a training contract?

Emily: It means a lot to me after years of hard work, studying and working full time. It is a long process to qualify as a solicitor and it was such a relief to know that I was going to start my training contract.

Paige: I have been working towards securing a training contract at Winns for the past couple of years and I was so happy to find out I was successful. I was initially disappointed when I was unsuccessful last year. However, I took on board all feedback provided and was even more determined this time around. I have progressed so much as a Fee Earner over the last year and I am excited to get started and to develop further as a Trainee Solicitor and to progress in my career.

What will change for you after you begin your training contract?

Emily: I will perform my current role as usual but complete additional tasks which are set. I know that there is more advocacy involved and the current trainees attend hearings, provide advice on quantum and perform research tasks.

Paige: While I will remain in my current position during my training contract, I will also be working with different departments and assisting colleagues with tasks such as opinions on quantum and advocacy work which is something I am particularly looking forward to.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank for helping you reach this point?

Emily: Each and every one of my colleagues in both Part 7 and Complex has been supportive since I joined the firm and I would like to thank everyone I have worked with over the past year and a half. Dawn, who was my Part 7 supervisor, particularly helped me through the application process and has always encouraged me to apply since joining the firm. I have also learned a lot from my colleagues in the Complex department which helped me when I reached the interview stage of the process.

Paige: I would like to thank my current supervisor Claire and previous supervisor Dawn for all their help and support during my time as a Fee Earner and for their continued encouragement during the application process. I would also like to thank my colleagues who have supported me throughout and those who have previously been through the training contract process who have provided their advice.

What are your future professional ambitions?

Emily: I have really enjoyed working within serious injury so it would be great to qualify into a serious injury role at Winns. I will definitely use my training contract experience to see if there is anything else that I enjoy and I am looking forward to working in some different areas.

Paige: Within my current role I have had the chance to work on high-value personal injury cases with serious injuries which is something I have really enjoyed. This is an area I would like to progress into once I qualify as a Solicitor.