Eric Robinson Attracts New Talent

Eric Robinson Solicitors is delighted with the two new trainees who have both moved to the south coast in order to join one of Southampton’s most prestigious law firms.

Craig Petrie has returned home to the south coast after studying and working in the North of England. After growing up on the Isle of Wight and attending Ryde School, Craig moved to the University of East Anglia in 2000 in order to study Politics.

He then took a year out from studying in order to compete in golf tournaments across Europe and in the US. ‘I have played golf since I was 10 years old and I knew that if I didn’t take time out after university to compete, I wouldn’t have time once I started my career.

Craig began his legal studies in 2005 when he did a conversion course at the College of Law in York, completing his Graduate Diploma and then his LPC. ‘It was always my plan to another subject before studying law,’ he explains. ‘I wanted to be able to think in a number of ways from a more broad education.’

Though ready to begin his legal career, Craig could not help but take one more opportunity to indulge in some competitive golf and represented the Isle of Wight at the ‘Island Games’ held on the Shetland Islands.

Craig’s first job was working for a conveyancing firm in Leeds where he built up his practical experience to match his qualifications, but he knew he wanted to return to the south and so applied for the Trainee Programme at Eric Robinson Solicitors in 2007. ‘Eric Robinson is a large firm with many departments to experience, so I knew there would be a lot to learn and be challenged with.’

In his spare time Craig, 27, still enjoys a round of Golf in Sandown & Shanklin Golf Club on the Isle of Wight where he is still a member and attending gigs and concerts to hear live music.

Sanjeev Rattan is the other trainee solicitor to have secured a contract at Eric Robinson. Sanjeev, 26, has studied law since his A-levels at Ashbourne College, completed a law degree at Kingston University and an LPC at Guildford College of Law. He also achieved a merit pass in the first year of a postgraduate UCL Master of Laws degree in International Finance Law and will be completing his second year through distance learning.

‘Since I was young, I was always interested in working in Commercial Property,’ he says. ‘During my studies, I found I had a natural understanding of this particular area and chose it for my core electives. I enjoy networking with private and corporate clients, being involved in large scale transactions and gain great satisfaction from a job well done.‘

After gaining experience of international law firms in the City through a number of temporary paralegal contracts, Sanjeev put his ambition to the test when he worked for the conveyancing department of Lattey & Dawe in Liverpool Street and then for DLA Piper UK LLP.

‘I applied to Eric Robinson for a training contract because I was recommended to the firm by my Uncle who lives in the area. I found the people here very friendly and approachable, could see a long-term future in the firm’s expanding commercial department and would love to settle down in Hampshire.’