A HEREFORD law firm has helped a mature student progress her legal career offering vital work experience.

Kidwells Law Solicitors, based on the Rotherwas Industrial Estate, has provided Nicola Haines, with a two year training contract.

At the age of 33 she decided to become a solicitor and started a law degree with the Open University.

The next stage was to complete the Legal Practice Course, another requirement on the route to qualification as a solicitor.

As an Open University graduate an automatic place is offered with the College of Law and Nicola attended the Birmingham College of Law for her course.

In order to qualify as a solicitor Nicola then needed a training contract.

“I was fully aware that training contracts were very difficult to come by especially as the legal student media was reporting that the number of students completing the LPC each year far outweighed the number of training contracts available,” said Nicola.

“During my search I was fortunate enough to attend a two day work experience placement at Kidwells Law Solicitors Ltd in Hereford in July 2013.

“I was extremely fortunate to be offered a training contract in 2014 and look forward to continuing my journey to qualification.

“I can still remember hovering over the enter button on my computer at home wondering whether I should start a law degree at 33.”