Two solicitors from Merthyr Tydfil and Nelson-based law firm, JNP Legal, have been awarded higher rights of audience, meaning that they are now qualified to undertake work in the higher courts.
Criminal solicitors Paul Jenkins and Josie Flicker have both been awarded the qualification which allows them to practice in the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal with the same rights and status as barristers.
In order to achieve higher rights of audience, applicants must sit a written exam, complete a practical presentation and interview, and submit a portfolio of experience demonstrating the range and breadth of cases they have worked on.
Both Paul and Josie started at JNP Legal as trainee solicitors. After completing their two year training period they were both offered full-time positions with the firm.
Tony Williams, head of the criminal department and a director at JNP Legal, explains the benefits of achieving higher rights of audience:
“It used to be the case that if a lawsuit proceeded to the higher courts solicitors’ practices would need to employ a barrister to conduct the case. Now that all of our court advocates have higher rights of audience we won’t ever need to outsource work, meaning that we will be able to see all of our cases right through to their conclusion ourselves.
“JNP Legal’s criminal department has gone from strength to strength over recent years and we now have a team of eight members of staff, including one full-time trainee. We look forward to continuing to improve our offering and welcome the new opportunities that these qualifications will bring to the firm.”
Josie, 32, joined JNP Legal as a trainee in 2002 and qualified in 2004, after which she was offered a position as assistant solicitor in the criminal department.
Josie commented: “Being a Crown Court advocate is not something I had ever envisaged as part of my career, but the legal profession is changing and as such we need to change with it. In order to thrive as a business we need to be able to offer ‘cradle to grave’ expertise.
“JNP Legal has always been supportive in encouraging professional development and nurtures a ‘grow your own’ policy in relation to training and recruitment. The higher rights of audience qualification enabled the firm to fulfil its business ambitions and me to discover my previously unharnessed professional ones!”
Unlike Josie, Paul knew he wanted to become a higher court advocate from an early stage in his career. Paul said: “I can only thank the firm for offering me the opportunity to further myself professionally. Since achieving the qualification I have had the opportunity to undertake work in the Crown Court, and whilst it is a daunting experience it is one I have found very rewarding. Having three higher court advocates places us in a much stronger position in this ever changing climate.”
JNP Legal provides expertise in many areas of law including family, wills and probate, personal injury, conveyancing and criminal law. Established in 1981 and with offices in both Merthyr Tydfil and Nelson, JNP Legal is well placed to meet the needs of its local clients.