Meet our newly qualified Solicitors: Emily, Ella, Annabel and Laura

17th Sep 2026

Author: Butcher & Barlow

We are delighted to introduce our four newest Solicitors, Emily Scott, Ella Woodier, Annabel Jones and Laura Clarke, who have recently completed their formal legal training with Butcher & Barlow.

Now qualifying into four very different areas of law, Amy Norman caught up with them to find out what first drew them to the profession, how they found the right specialism for them and what they have learned along the way.

Firstly, a huge congratulations to you all! Let’s start at the beginning. What first made you think a career in law might be for you?

Emily: I’m not too sure what first made me think a career in law was for me; it’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. When I was 10 years old, I wrote a letter to my 21-year-old self setting out my future ambitions. One of them was that, by the time I was 21, I wanted to be a Solicitor and own my own law firm. I now realise that thinking I would achieve this by 21 was a little far-fetched, although perhaps not quite as far-fetched as also believing that by 21 I would be faster than Usain Bolt!

Solicitor, law firm owner and faster than Usain Bolt by 21 – you weren’t short on ambition! What about the rest of you?

Ella: I’ve always been really interested in crime documentaries and shows like Suits. Although my current area of work is completely different from criminal law, I’ve always enjoyed helping people and being able to support them when they need it. I think that’s one of the things that drew me to becoming a Solicitor – being able to listen to people’s concerns, provide guidance and help them navigate situations that can often feel overwhelming.

Annabel: To be honest, I read a careers article in high school that really drew me in and that started it off. From there, I was fortunate enough to gain legal work experience with the Lord Edmund Davies Legal Education Trust, which really cemented my aspirations for a career in law.

Laura: History and English were my best subjects at school and my gran always encouraged my love of history outside school as well. Essay-writing subjects were always where I thrived. I did my first mock trial in year 11 and it confirmed that law was a much better fit for me. A level law was the final confirmation I needed as I adored the two years I spent doing that course.

All inspired in very different ways! And did you always know which area of law you wanted to work in?

Laura: I went through university refusing to even entertain the idea of Family Law. Having experienced a few divorces in my own family, I had no interest in involving myself in divorce any further. I started at Butcher & Barlow in Residential Property but it became clear that wasn’t my area either. Nicola Wingfield noticed and stole me away into Family Law – the rest is history. I don’t think I had really considered the children side of Family Law when I was at university.

Annabel: I have always been drawn to working with commercial clients and the world of business fascinates me, so I was keen to see how the law interacts with businesses in practice. Having spent the last year with the Corporate & Commercial Team, I ‘ve found it rewarding to support businesses as they grow and help owners reap the benefits of their hard work on exit.

It’s interesting to hear how differently you each found your way into your current areas of law. Laura, you certainly didn’t see Family Law coming, while Annabel was drawn to Corporate & Commercial from the outset. Emily and Ella, what is it that you enjoy most about the areas you have ended up in?

Emily: For me, it’s the contentious element and the complete variety. A year into Dispute Resolution and I still find myself dealing with new things all the time.

Ella: In Wills, Trusts & Estates, many of our clients are looking for reassurance and peace of mind, knowing that their affairs are in order and everything will be handled when they need it most. I experienced the sudden loss of my grandma last year, which gave me a real appreciation for the invaluable support Solicitors can provide when someone is dealing with the administration of an estate. Having been through the grieving process myself, I understand how overwhelming and emotional those situations can be and I want to be able to ease some of those practical pressures for other people.

I think that probably says something quite important in itself. Sometimes it is less about setting out to practise in a particular area and more about discovering the type of work, clients and problems that suit you once you are actually doing the job.

So, now that you’ve found your respective areas, what does a typical working day look like – if there is such a thing?

Emily: I wouldn’t say I have a typical working day, as they tend to be quite varied. I usually start my morning with a cup of coffee while checking my emails, updating my to-do list and deciding what needs to be prioritised.

After that, I could be doing anything from attending a court hearing, reviewing a medical expert’s report or looking through old title deeds to advise on a land dispute.

Annabel: Same here – no day is completely the same, but every day begins with checking the inbox and making sure the to-do list is up to date. From there, it can be anything from drafting ancillary documents, agreements and reports to managing virtual data rooms.

Ella: Same! First thing, I’ll check my emails and deal with anything urgent. From there anything can happen – drafting Wills, meeting Clients or dealing with whatever else the day brings.

Laura: I think we’re all agreed there’s no such thing as a typical day! We always have plenty of emails to get through, but what the rest of the day looks like really depends on what is in the diary.

So perhaps the only real constants are emails and a to-do list! Looking back over your training, what moments stand out most?

Emily: Being told I had secured the Training Contract. It was such a relief, but also incredibly exciting, to feel like I was finally on my way to qualifying. As for the work itself, one of the most interesting matters was a personal injury case which involved attending Coroner’s Court, where there was a jury and a local newspaper reporter present.

Ella: One that stands out was during my seat in Residential Property when I had the opportunity to help my sister purchase her first home. It was particularly special because I was able to use the knowledge and skills I had developed during my Training Contract to support someone close to me through such an important milestone. It’s something I look back on with a lot of fondness.

Laura: I think doing my first hearings on my own – very scary but very rewarding. The first hearing I did was for a client Catherine Vardy, Tiffany Shoesmith and I have been assisting for a few years, so that particularly stands out.

Annabel: I’d say the multimillion-pound share sales are always memorable – the thought of shareholders gaining millions overnight is crazy and very impressive! I also really enjoy the start of a matter, when you learn more about the business and how we can help while beginning to build a rapport with the Clients.

Has anything about working in law surprised you?

Ella: How much of it is about people, rather than just the law itself. I expected the role to be heavily focused on legal knowledge and technical analysis, but communication, empathy, teamwork and understanding each Client’s individual circumstances are just as important.

Emily: I had always assumed that working in Dispute Resolution would mean being in and out of court all the time. In reality, most matters settle before they ever reach court.

Annabel: I’d agree with Ella about the people side of it. I always thought the vast areas of law would make for interesting studies and training as you discover the area that suits you most, but something that has really surprised me is how closely many different departments work together in practice.

Laura: Honestly, it’s still the fact that I’m qualifying into Family Law! If you had told Laura in 2018 that this is where we’d be eight years later, she would not believe you.

Looking back at your Training Contract, what have you learned about yourself?

Ella: I’ve learned that I’m more adaptable and resilient than I initially realised. Moving between different Teams and areas of law pushed me outside my comfort zone and taught me to quickly adapt to new environments and ways of working.

Emily: I think I’ve learned not to put so much pressure on myself to know everything straight away. Experience and confidence take time, and even people who have been doing the job for years still come across new situations. I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask questions and not have all the answers.

Laura: I’d agree with Emily on confidence. I’m much more confident and more willing to back myself. When I first started as a Paralegal, if a Client or another legal professional told me I had done something wrong or that I was wrong, I would immediately assume that they were right. I’m now more willing to back myself if need be. I’m more than happy to accept when I’m wrong, but I was too quick before to assume they must be right.

Annabel: I have developed so much throughout my Training Contract. If I were to narrow it down to a few key skills, I would say I have greatly improved my prioritisation, management of expectations and drafting.

Now that you’ve qualified, what comes next?

Ella: I’m most looking forward to no longer having to introduce myself as “the Trainee” and finally being able to say “I’m a Solicitor” with confidence – although I’m sure I’ll still have moments where I’m wondering if someone has accidentally let me into the room!

I’m also looking forward to having a little more responsibility and continuing to learn. Qualifying is a huge milestone, but I’m under no illusion that it means I suddenly know everything – I’m just hoping I can now find the right answer slightly faster!

Emily: I’m also looking forward to continuing to learn while taking on more responsibility and becoming increasingly independent.

Annabel: Celebrating with my family and friends first and foremost! I can’t thank them enough for all the love and support they have given me over the years. Beyond that, like Ella and Emily, I would like to keep learning and developing my skills to become the best Solicitor I can be.

Laura: I’m looking forward to the future overall. I think we’re all saying much the same thing – we all want to keep improving I just want to keep improving. I’m in a Team full of incredible women who are amazing at what they do and it’s cliché, but I want to keep up with them.

One thing that comes across from all four of you is that qualification definitely isn’t being viewed as the end of the learning process!

Let’s look backwards rather than forwards for a moment.  If you could tell your 15-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

Emily: Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and trust that what is meant for you will not pass you by.

Ella: Mine is very similar – Don’t put too much pressure on having everything figured out straight away and enjoy the moment a little more. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, as they often lead you towards where you’re meant to be.

Annabel: I think we’re all on the same page with this one! You’ve got this! Everything works out how it is supposed to, so keep having fun and celebrating the little moments along the way.

There’s definitely a theme developing here! Laura?

Laura: Primarily just calm down! It’s going to be fine and you’ll end up exactly where you’re supposed to be. You don’t have to have it all figured out, just focus on the foreseeable future instead of things far in the future that you can’t control.

Also, don’t get a fringe.

Finally, what advice would you give our next generation of Trainees?

Annabel: Ask questions and be a sponge! Everyone has so much knowledge and experience, so learn as much as you can. Be curious!

Emily: It’s okay not to know everything or to get things wrong. No one expects you to have all the answers all the time. If you did, there wouldn’t be much point in doing a Training Contract.

Ella: I completely agree about asking questions. Take in as much information as possible and always ask questions – no question is a silly question. Also, I know it may seem that qualification is far away now but, trust me, it’s not!

Laura: Try an area that you aren’t sure about. That might sound hypocritical coming from someone who barely moved from Family Law, but if I hadn’t been so eager to leave Residential Property, I would never have ended up where I am now. Put yourself forward for things you’re unsure about because you never know where they might take you.

I think that brings us rather neatly back to where we started. None of the four journeys has been quite the same and, as Laura in particular has proved, you don’t necessarily end up where you expect to!

Congratulations to Emily, Ella, Annabel and Laura on reaching this milestone. We look forward to seeing what comes next as they begin the next stage of their careers with Butcher & Barlow.