York-based Pryers Solicitors has not let lockdown prohibit the development of its lawyers with two trainees recently completing their contracts.
Hannah Cazaly and Laura Cates joined the personal injury and negligence law firm after enjoying work experience four years ago. They started as paralegals while applying to join the training contract scheme.
They spent time in a variety of seats to give them access to different areas of law. They both enjoyed their time in the medical negligence team, which is the biggest department at Pryers.
Cates said: “Pryers’s specialism in medical negligence is what first attracted me to the firm. These types of claims are so varied and give you access to such a broad spectrum of medical practice. There are so many complexities in each case and no case is ever the same.”
Cazaly and Cates have both secured permanent solicitor roles in the medical negligence team at Pryers.
Cazaly said that she wasn’t daunted by her new role, as managing her own caseload while training has prepared her perfectly for it: “We have already learnt how to build relationships with our clients, medical experts and counsel, so it isn’t daunting at all now that I am qualifying. I just see the new role as an extension of what I have been doing for the last 18 months.”
They both count themselves fortunate that their training and qualification was not delayed due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. But they would normally be looking forward to a graduation at the Law Society in London, which will be postponed.
Instead, they will celebrate with their family and colleagues at Pryers through a video conference.
Pictured: Hannah Cazaly and Laura Cates, with Angus Buchanan, who is in his first year of his training contract at Pryers
