News

Local Solicitor Joins Family Team

A local woman has returned from Africa to join the Family law team at a leading firm of solicitors.

Elizabeth Franklin, aged 28 and from St. Ives, undertook her training contract with Nalders Solicitors before leaving for Thailand and then Africa in December, on a sabbatical with the charity organisation - International Volunteer HQ.

Living and teaching English in an orphanage in Tanzania, as well as raising awareness about HIV and AIDS with parents, Elizabeth had to overcome obstacles including no running water or electricity, and very basic buildings for classrooms. She also picked up Swahili in a very short time to communicate as very few people spoke English.

Supporting her Sabbatical, Nalders Solicitors are delighted she has now returned to join them as an Associate Solicitor within the Family department, based in their Falmouth office.

With seven other solicitors practicing Family law in the firm, she is looking forward to working across all areas of family law including marriage and cohabitation breakdown, domestic violence and financial matters on relationship breakdowns.

As well as dealing with any matters involving children, Elizabeth hopes to progress to be a member of the Children Act Panel once she has notched up the relevant experience Elizabeth said, "I have held a particular interest in Family law since studying it at university. I am especially interested in cases concerning child protection. I attended the Victoria Climbie Enquiry Conference whilst studying law at Sussex University and this really spurred my interest in child protection and the interaction with social services. I am however interested in the legal and historical legislative framework surrounding the development of family law generally as it is something that must be reviewed consistently in order to continue to work with an ever changing society."

Wayne Bushell, Partnership Manager at Nalders said, "We are delighted to have Elizabeth in our Falmouth office.　 She is extremely driven and compassionate about family law issues as shown by her studies and recent trip to Africa.　 With offices across Cornwall, Nalders undertake all aspects of Family law - divorce, finances, cohabitation disputes, domestic violence, child matters etc. It is a busy department and Elizabeth is a very welcomed addition to our team".

Elizabeth studied A-Levels at Penwith College before undertaking her degree at Sussex in 2000. Graduating in Law LLB, she worked at various law firms in Brighton before returning to Cornwall to join her family. Determined to work for a reputable and well known firm of solicitors, she approached Nalders in 2007 and joined the team as a Paralegal with a view to undertaking her training contract.

Now onto her next challenge, as a keen long distance runner Elizabeth hopes to undertake the Truro half marathon in September, hoping to raise funds for the African orphanage that she visited.