Partners In Parallel At Law Firm By Julian Woodford

The truth really is stranger than fiction. Who'd have believed that the lives and careers of two young women lawyers could have followed such remarkably similar and parallel paths - and without them knowing it. Claire Ramsden and Jane Longhorn, who have just been made new partners at the Hull firm, Williamsons Solicitors, both started their education at the same primary school, at Easington in Holderness.

They then moved up to Withernsea High School before going on to university, the same law college and private practice.

Separated by a few years they only realised their strangely similar paths when they recognised each other in the office at Williamsons. "We couldn't believe it when we found out that we had so much in common," says Miss Longhorn, who's 28 years old. "After all that work and time, it was actually a bit of a thrill to find out we were working together." Now they are fulfilling their careers with the practice, based in Lowgate, Hull. Miss Longhorn, who specialises in conveyancing, graduated from Humberside and Lincolnshire University and the College of Law, York, joining Williamsons to train before qualifying in 2003.

Her appointment comes as Williamsons faces the challenge of new legislation.

"As well as the normal workload, we're preparing for the introduction of the new Home Information Packs. We're trying to put ourselves at the forefront of these changes following the Government's decision to introduce them in 2007." Mrs Ramsden, who is 33 years old and head of the commercial property department, graduated from the University of Sheffield and the College of Law, York. She then trained and qualified in Nottingham, before working for Hull solicitors Andrew M Jackson, Lincoln-based Langleys and Hull City Council.

"Much of our current work is on development sites, including acquisitions and utilities projects. Business is very strong at the moment." Bill Waddington, partner, said: "Adding one new partner to the business is always cause for celebration. Adding two is a real pleasure. Both Claire and Jane have already proven themselves, and they can only strengthen our commercial property and conveyancing teams."

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