Lesley Gill, director of wills, trusts and probate, and Charlotte Shaughnessy, private client solicitor, received their diploma certificates earlier this month, after passing their fourth and final exam in May 2014.
To achieve STEP practitioner status, individuals must demonstrate a deep understanding of subjects such as law, taxation and estate issues with members committing to a strict code of professional conduct that inspires the confidence, respect and trust of clients. The STEP qualification consists of a series of exams covering the legal aspects surrounding trusts and estates, with each exam requiring six months of independent study.
The pair carried out their studies during evenings and weekends over two years, while continuing with their full-time jobs. Now fully qualified, it means they have more expertise in trust and estate matters and will be better placed to provide specialist advice and guidance to more individuals and families.
Rachel Chenery, private client solicitor, achieved her STEP diploma in September 2010 which means that the entire wills, trusts and probate team are now all trusted and established experts in this field.
As well as being a STEP member, Rachel has also just gained her Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) qualification, meaning that she is an expert in providing tailored advice for elderly clients.
Rachel studied for eight weeks to complete and pass the exam, and is now a member of the SFE panel. SFE is an independent organisation, which provides specialised legal advice for elderly and vulnerable clients, and their carers.
Stephen Attree, managing director of MLP Law, said: “We are extremely proud of everyone on the team for completing the qualification. They have all shown their commitment to improving their knowledge and expertise so they are able to provide sound advice on issues surrounding trusts and estates.
“It’s unusual for a small law firm to have a team that is exclusively made up of STEP-accredited practitioners but we wanted every member of our wills, trusts and probate department to gain this qualification so that we could provide the best possible specialist advice to our clients. The fact that everyone now has the STEP qualification just goes to prove the quality of the legal advice that we can provide.”
MLP delivers a full range of legal services to personal and commercial clients. The team is highly skilled in advising clients on matters such as litigation disputes, employment law and intellectual property, whilst also offering private client services, such as family law and wills, trusts and probate advice.
STEP is an internationally recognised association with over 19,400 members across 95 jurisdictions. Members come from a range of professional sectors such as law, accountancy, banking and insurance. The society is focused on the continuing educational development of practitioners, while promoting high professional standards through its strict code of conduct.
