Pictured: Jessica Downing
A woman who has wanted to be a family lawyer since she was 15
has fulfilled her ambition by joining Robinsons Solicitors' family
department.
Jessica Downing, who completed her six years of legal training
in August 2011, has taken position as legal assistant at the firm,
which has offices on St James Court in Derby.
Jessica explained that she wanted to become a lawyer after
seeing how her school friends were affected by their parents'
divorces. She said: "After seeing the impact of divorce on my
childhood friends I was determined to become a lawyer so I could
make the process easier for any children involved."
After graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University and
sitting her LPC (Legal Practice Course) at Staffordshire Law
School, Jessica undertook a training contract with a Midlands-based
firm. Here she specialised in family law and worked on children's
act and domestic violence cases.
As a legal assistant at Robinsons Solicitors she will work
closely with the firm's family lawyers and help guide couples
through the divorce process as quickly and painlessly - for them
and their children - as possible.
Robinsons' Family Department offers specialist mediation
services for separating couples and Jessica is looking forward to
learning more about this area of dispute resolution because it
often lowers the impact that separation has on children.
"I'm delighted to have joined Robinsons Solicitors," Jessica
added. I'm really looking forward to putting everything that
I've learnt into practice so that I can help people move through a
difficult time in their lives quickly, economically and with as
little stress as possible."
In addition to her day to day work, Jessica has also become a
trustee for Relate, a role that requires her to oversee the running
of the charity, ensuring that it complies with charity law, is
solvent, well run and delivers its charitable objectives.
Fiona Apthorpe, principal and head of the Family and Mediation
department, said: "I'm pleased to welcome Jessica to the family law
team at Robinsons. During her training contract she worked on some
challenging family law projects and I'm certain that she will
continue to build on that experience to become a valuable asset to
the firm."
Robinsons Solicitors is one of the best known law firms
operating in the East Midlands, with a clear focus upon providing
high levels of client care. Robinsons offers a comprehensive range
of legal services spanning commercial and private client
sectors.
With offices in Derby and Ilkeston, the firm is managed by a
team of eight Principals, supported by over 50 members of staff -
each of whom share the same vision of providing the highest level
of professionalism and client care.
For further information about Robinsons Solicitors and the
services it provides, telephone its Ilkeston office on 0115 9324101
or its Derby branch on 01332 291431.