Former apprentice takes law into his own hands.

Remembering his own time as an apprentice Legal Executive 20 years ago gives added impetus to the support Stephen Gowland is able to offer two young employees in his own successful law practice.

Providing legal assistance to victims of accidents, ranging from road traffic incidents, accidents at work and slips, trips and falls, Stephen happily credits the Apprenticeship programme with providing the right blend of practical training, theory and nationally recognised qualifications employers are looking for.

“I began my career on a vocational training programme straight after my A Levels and was placed with a law firm in Durham.  As part of the apprenticeship, I studied the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) course part time alongside my day job en-route to qualifying as a fully fledged Legal Executive and later on as a solicitor too.  I’m now establishing my own practice, ILS Solicitors and becoming a director of the Institute of Legal Executives.”

Following in Stephen’s footsteps are Stephanie Taylor (22) who has completed her apprenticeship and is now considering further qualifications with the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) whilst providing support to new recruit Eleanor Pickering (17).  Recently recruited by ITEC North East, Eleanor initially studied Public Services at college but realised she would prefer a Business & Administration apprenticeship and further develop her skills in administration, team working and ideally with the opportunity to meet with members of the public.  Eleanor’s new role seems perfectly suited to giving her all the variety she is looking for to establish herself and develop her career.

Clients of ILS Solicitors are now able to visit Stephen at his new premises in Meadowfield as Eleanor takes on responsibility for a broad range of day to day administrative tasks and Stephanie’s experience is helping to free-up Stephen’s time to such an extent that he has been able to increase the volume of business within ILS Solicitors.

“Speaking from personal experience, and as a small business, I have nothing but praise for the Apprenticeship programme.  Apprenticeships help to kick start a young person’s career in their chosen field, whilst getting a foot in the door with an employer.  As an employer, Apprenticeships provide an ideal way of training someone to your own standards and ways of working.