Choose your Leeds JLD Committee for 2024
EVENTS OFFICER:
Bethany Collings

I am currently employed by Clarion Solicitors and worked there for nearly four years, having started as an Apprentice Paralegal. I am now a qualified Paralegal in the Costs and Litigation Funding team. I am undertaking my final exams to receive a Level 3 Diploma in November and will be undertaking my next qualification to become a Lawyer. I am often described as ‘organised’ and ‘full of ideas’ in my professional and personal life, and I would love to bring those attributes to the Junior Lawyers Division.

 

Having spoken to my manager about this opportunity he is fully supportive of my application, and we both feel that I have capacity to take on this roll if successful. I pride myself on my positive attitude and ability to work well with others. I am proactive and driven and would relish this opportunity to meet and work with others in the legal field.

 

In addition to my day-to-day role at Clarion, I am an active member of BeingGreen Team, which is part of Clarion’s commitment to reducing our environmental impact and carbon footprint, Last month I led on a very successful event as part of Oxfam’s ‘Second Hand September’ campaign. The event was a swap shop where employees brought in items of clothes or accessories they no longer used. They exchanged them for a token which enabled them to get 3 items on the day of the event. Entry was £5, which was donated to our chosen charity and any clothes that were left were also donated to charity. I enlisted volunteers to help steam the clothes and to assist with the event and lunchtime session. I was responsible for managing the organisation of the event including scheduling the meetings, organising the room decoration and displays and marketing of the event within the firm.

 

The main aim of the event was to prevent clothing from going to the landfill while raising money for charity. The event was a huge success and I got positive feedback from my colleagues at Clarion.

 

I also participate in Clarion’s BeingSocial initiative, which helps plan the social events within the firm. As part of that, I assisted with an event for South Asian Heritage Month. The event celebrated the culture and history of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The event involved Bhangra Music and masterclass, Indian food, cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks, decorations and the history of the countries celebrated. I attended and contributed my ideas in all meetings and took lead on finding the drinks and decorations for the event. The event had a great turnout and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended.

 

Within my team I assist with the preparation and marketing of seminars and webinars and recently assisted with our Clinical Negligence Rising Star Webinar. For this webinar, I was able to book a fantastic Barrister who has been named in the Legal 500.

 

I take great pride in being involved in helping organise such important events, and I would love the opportunity to do the same within the Junior Lawyers Division.