03/04/24
Inside CTT Law, where every legal professional is committed to their craft, there’s a huge sense of pride and achievement. In the heart of our department, hard work is the norm, and the results speak for themselves.
Amidst this dynamic team, two exceptional individuals have been recognised by the Warwickshire Law Society, receiving prestigious awards and nominations for their outstanding contributions at the annual Law Society Awards 2023.
Emma Bolochowecki, who is one exam away from being a qualified Conveyancing Technician, won the Warwickshire Law Society Award for Young Lawyer of the Year, thanks to her passion for the law, quest for equality, and tireless charity efforts. However, the accolades don’t end there. Laura Toner, our Head of Conveyancing and Emma’s Manager, secured a first runner-up nomination for the same award, adding to the celebrations within our department!
The Young Lawyer of the Year
Despite her remarkable progress at CTT Law since joining the team in 2021, Emma was taken by surprise with the nomination. She says, “I suffered from a lack of confidence prior to joining CTT Law, so to have been nominated and recognised in something that I love doing is fantastic!” She goes on to say, “It was all very secretive. When I was told I’d been put forward for the award, I cried!”
Commitment to Excellence
Emma spent 12 years in the legal industry, most of which as a conveyancing legal secretary in another law firm before making the move to CTT Law just over two years ago. She made an immediate impact with her outstanding performance. “It was very obvious that Emma was capable of handling more complex work than she was doing,” remarks Laura.
Upholding our commitment to provide training and development, the team at CTT Law soon included Emma in more specialised legal tasks. “Emma was ready for a challenge to make her realise she can do these things and build her confidence,” explains Laura.
In just two and a half years, Emma moved from a paralegal position to that of Junior Fee Earner and most recently Emma was promoted to a full Fee Earning role. Laura emphasises the excellence in Emma’s journey: “To have that progression in just over two years is amazing!” she says, but such progression is not uncommon at CTT Law.
In addition to her sincere commitment to her legal responsibilities, Emma’s award victory extends beyond her legal career. “I’m a huge fan of Eurovision and what it represents in terms of equal rights – it’s something I spoke about in my award interview,” she shares, recounting the surprise of the judges.
Emma not only impressed Warwickshire Law Society bosses with her advocacy for equal rights and positivity, but also with her dedication to charity work. “I’ve always been involved in charity work; I believe if you can help someone out, you should do it,” she says.
A standout fundraising moment for Emma was her collaboration with Leamington-based charity, Helping Hands, for which she was involved in raising thousands of pounds for the homeless community together with other members of her family. “We sang on stage and walked the pride parade with my stepdad dressed in drag to raise money for those within the LGBTQ+ community facing homelessness – among other events!” she recalls fondly. Recently appointed head of the CTT Law’s Charity Committee, she assures, “There will be some things in the pipeline this year!” and we will once again be raising funds for Helping Hands, the firm’s chosen charity for 2024.
A Double Win
Emma’s journey with CTT seems almost destined. Reflecting on her time since joining, Emma beams, “I’ve loved it from the start. The second I had the interview with Tony, I knew I wanted to work at CTT Law. It’s such a great place to work; everyone is so welcoming, friendly, and helpful.”
Expressing gratitude to Laura, who secured a runner-up place for the prestigious award, Emma acknowledges the invaluable support she has received from her Head of Conveyancing, “Laura teaches me something on a daily basis!”
Laura, a Licensed Conveyancer, was nominated for the award by CTT Law’s Managing Director and Head of Legal Practice, Anthony Mbanefo. She assumed her role as Head of Conveyancing at the age of just 26, confirming Anthony’s trust and confidence in her ability.
Since joining CTT Law, Laura has played a pivotal role in the firm’s growth. “When I started, we were a small team; since then, we’ve almost tripled in size.” Entering her managerial role with personal goals and aspirations, Laura’s succeeded in increasing the lender panel membership to include mortgage work and obtaining the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation for the firm, reflecting CTT Law’s high standards of service.
Currently, Laura’s focus is on steering the team’s expansion into other areas of conveyancing and law while ensuring the ongoing development and training of current staff, highlighting the broader significance of the two nominations for the team; “To be recognised with an award from the Law Society in this region is fantastic. It shows that we are amazing, and our people are amazing,” she says, noting that CTT Law secured two of the three nominations for the award.
CTT Law’s Unique Legal Culture
Both Laura and Emma define CTT Law as a contemporary and distinctive legal practice. “It’s a highly collaborative environment. We never experience the dreaded Monday blues,” chuckles Laura. That’s because at CTT Law, we take pride in creating a dynamic workplace that fosters a collaborative atmosphere, providing support for individuals in both their personal and professional growth.
Anthony emphasises, “One of the privileges of working in CTT Group is that we place a lot of emphasis on the identification and development of talent.” He expresses his pride in Laura and Emma for their well-deserved nominations, stating, “I already considered them both winners. I believe this award hasn’t fully explored their potential. I hope this marks the beginning of numerous awards for them and the entire staff at the firm.”
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Emma and Laura for their exceptional achievements and we are excited to facilitate their fantastic legal journeys!
To discover more about our services and find out how our exceptional team can deliver award winning, 5-star rated, legal solutions to support your needs, please get in touch.
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