Choose your Leeds JLD Committee for 2025
SPONSORSHIP:
FLORENCE WHARTON
As a Solicitor Apprentice, collaboration is central to my development, as such I am excited to appfor the role of Sponsorship Officer.
This position requires a candidate who can build and maintain strong professional relationships, secure new sponsors, and represent JLD with confidence. These are skills I have honed, not just during my time in the industry, but also in previous roles. This reflects the professional versatility needed to engage effectively with sponsors across a diverse range of industries.
I began my Solicitor Apprenticeship straight from sixth form, gaining early exposure to the legal profession and developing adaptability, professionalism, and client-facing confidence from the outset. Entering the field without a university background meant I had to rely on building strong relationships and communicating effectively—skills that now enable me to represent junior lawyerswith authenticity and insight. This unique route into law gives me a fresh, proactive approach to sponsorship engagement, with a clear understanding of how to connect sponsors with the value and needs of our diverse JLD membership. In my current role, I have established connections witsome existing sponsors and foresee opportunities to strengthen these relationships, while developing new ones with clients and contacts across the legal community.
Beyond client work, I have successfully liaised with universities to plan and deliver insight event for aspiring lawyers, ensuring my firm’s reputation was upheld as I coordinated logistics and managed multiple stakeholders’ expectations. Additionally, I produce my firm’s internal newsletter, which involves gathering updates from different departments and presenting them in a clear and engaging way. This demonstrates my ability to communicate effectively with varied audiences, recognise the importance of keeping sponsors informed and engaged.
Beyond my legal work, previous customer-facing roles in high-pressure Michelin standard hospitality settings have taught me how to manage complex customer requests with professionalism, as well as the art of building rapport quickly. This experience has shaped my confidence in networking environments and strengthened my ability to manage relationships, akey skills when engaging sponsors.
I bring leadership and organisational skills from previous roles where I took on key responsibilities and drove initiatives forward. As formed President of a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Society, re-established this committee within an educational setting, increasing engagement, and working with governors to embed DEI objectives into policy. As a trainer ‘Listener’, I partnered directly witMind to expand mental health support networks, demonstrating my ability to collaborate with external organisations and uphold values of care and professionalism.
I would bring enthusiasm, professionalism, and a strategic mindset to the Sponsorship Officer role. I would pursue sponsorships that align with JLD’s goals, ensuring partnerships deliver mutual value. With strong organisational skills and a growing legal network, I would strive to provide sponsors with a seamless experience while creating innovative ways to showcase their support. Ultimately, I’m committed to helping Leeds JLD thrive by securing the resources needed to deliver engaging events and valuable opportunities for junior lawyers in our city.