SO Legal announces four new training contracts

We are delighted to announce that Susanna Guirgis, Ella Raye, Brooke Walker and Emily Northedge have been awarded training contracts at SO Legal.

All four are already part of the firm, having joined us as paralegals, and will now take the next step in their legal careers as trainee solicitors.

Their training contracts continue our commitment to developing talented people within the firm and providing clear opportunities for paralegals looking to qualify as solicitors.

Meet our new trainee solicitors

• Susanna Guirgis joined our Brighton office in 2025 and is a paralegal supporting our residential property team. She completed a Master’s in Law with the College of Legal Practice in 2024 after graduating in Law from the University of Sussex. Susanna is studying towards qualification as a solicitor through the SQE route.
   
• Ella Raye joined SO Legal in 2026 as a paralegal in our residential property team. Based at our Eastbourne head office, she supports the team across a range of conveyancing matters. Ella holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Toronto and an MA in Law from the University of Sussex, where she graduated first in her cohort and received awards for both the highest overall grade and highest dissertation mark.
   
• Brooke Walker is a paralegal in our real estate finance team, based in our Brighton and London offices. She supports our solicitors across a range of real estate finance matters. Brooke holds a BA in Law from the University of Reading and is currently studying for her SQE exams at the University of Law.
   
• Emily Northedge is a paralegal in our commercial property team, based in our Brighton office. Before joining SO Legal, Emily gained experience at a national law firm supporting clients with estate management matters. She holds a BA in Law from the University of Sussex.

Susanna, Ella, Brooke and Emily join Luke Kimber, Lauren Fullerton, Farhad Zand and James Kinstrey, who were awarded training contracts with SO Legal earlier this year, further strengthening our growing group of trainee solicitors.

The role of training contracts in career development

A training contract is a structured, two-year programme that bridges the gap between academic study and legal practice. It provides aspiring solicitors with practical experience, expert mentorship, and the opportunity to develop essential skills needed to qualify as a solicitor.

At SO Legal, we regularly receive applications for training contracts and aim, wherever possible, to identify and develop talented people already working within the firm.

Simon Moss, managing director, said:

“We are delighted to award training contracts to Susanna, Ella, Brooke and Emily. All four have already made a valuable contribution to the firm as paralegals, and this is an important next step in their careers.

“They join Luke, Lauren, James and Farhad as part of a talented group of trainee solicitors developing their careers with SO Legal. Supporting people to progress within the firm remains an important part of our plans for the future.”

Explore career opportunities with SO Legal

Our recruitment allows our people to transition into business and apply legal knowledge in real-life situations. Hands-on experience is key, and even in the early stages of training, you will be involved in a wide range of legal matters.

We provide professional support and a structured path to help you reach your full potential and become a successful solicitor.

Follow us on Instagram and check our careers page regularly to stay updated on our latest paralegal and trainee solicitor opportunities.