Coodes Solicitors have highlighted the importance of nurturing staff, training them and helping them develop as they have promoted four new Partners and four new Associates in recent weeks.
According to The Annual Law Firms’ Survey 2018, many law firms have struggled to retain their top specialist talent. 84% of the top 100 law firms remain worried by a shortage of talent in the legal sector. This fear is only exacerbated by the possible implications Brexit could have on the talent pool within the UK legal sector once the outcome is finally confirmed.
The new positions cover an eclectic range of specialist areas including conveyancing, family law, commercial disputes and corporate and commercial.
Legal Executive, Maria Richards has worked in the Coodes’ St Austell office for over six years, developing her skills and honing her expertise in conveyancing and equity release.
Commercial disputes specialist Abi Lutey, based in Truro, has also been promoted to Partner following the successful role in partnership disputes and commercial property litigation; an area of law she has been working in with Coodes since her appointment in 2013.
In particular, it is within the Residential Property team that Coodes have excelled in developing trainees into experienced leaders within the profession. Kate Bayley joined the Holsworthy office as a trainee in 2003, qualifying as a solicitor in 2010; she has now been promoted to Associate.
Training and qualifying with Coodes, head of New Build Property team, Kate Manning has benefited from the firm’s guidance and has now been made associate. Stalwart of 12 years, Jane Stewart, who has been running the Affordable Housing team has also been made an Associate.
Former Coodes trainees, Kirsty McAuley and Sarah Evans will also be working as Partners for the firm following successful career in commercial law and family law respectively.
Whilst there will be many firms that have successfully nurtured and developed their talent, it would seem that Coodes Solicitors are a shining example of a law firm ensuring that they retain, protect and improve the expertise available to utilise within their law firm.
Peter Lamble, Chairman at Coodes Solicitors, commented:
“I would like to congratulate our eight new Partners and Associates, who have all worked hard and excelled in their roles to achieve these promotions.
“We pride ourselves on nurturing our own talent to allow people to develop and progress within the firm. We are constantly adapting to ensure we offer our employees the best opportunities. Being more flexible about when and where our teams work helps us offer a good work-life balance. We know our staff value the positive culture at Coodes, and the fact that we offer that flexibility. As a result, we benefit from having a low staff turnover – people stay at Coodes and we benefit from their commitment and depth of expertise.”
Do you think there is still a significant skills shortage in the profession? How important a priority is retaining skilled employees in a law firm?
