Top tier Dorset law firm Steele Raymond has welcomed a trio of new trainees to its team.

Amy Baugh, Jessica Wade and Ben MacDiarmid join the Bournemouth-based firm to embark on a two-year training contract, which is split across a variety of specialist legal areas at six month intervals.

Bournemouth-born Amy Baugh studied for both her law degree and her Legal Practice Course (LPC) at Bournemouth University, during which time she joined Steele Raymond as a placement student.

Returning as a trainee, Amy will take her first seat at the expanding Family team.

Jessica Wade, also from Bournemouth, joins the training programme after graduating from Exeter and Bournemouth Universities, where she studied English Law and her LPC respectively.

She found her way to Steele Raymond via the firm’s highly regarded assessment days, where candidates complete various tasks and problem solving exercises, while also being given the opportunity to meet the Partners and newly qualified solicitors.

Jessica will join Steele Raymond’s Company and Commercial team for her first seat.

Another Bournemouth local, Ben MacDiarmid studied Law at Reading University and, after graduating in 2013, returned home with plans to gain some ‘real-world’ experience before making a move into law.

After three years in the finance sector, Ben took a paralegal role in the Company and Commercial team at Steele Raymond, while simultaneously completing his LPC at Bournemouth University.

He takes his first seat in the Dispute Resolution team.

Jennifer Rogerson, Commercial Property Partner and Training Principal responsible for training contracts at Steele Raymond, said: “Our relentless focus on the delivery of a proactive training programme is testament to how important trainee solicitors are to the future of our firm.

“The level of talent that we see each year makes for a difficult selection process, but also means that we get the very best individuals at an important and formative stage in their careers.”

Commenting on this year’s trainee recruits, Jennifer said: “All three are fantastic; not only are they extremely talented young solicitors but their personalities fit perfectly with life at Steele Raymond.

“What is particularly encouraging is the variety of ways in which they arrived at the training contract – there are all sorts of routes into law and this shows that no path is necessarily ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.”