Dorset trainee solicitor travels to Turkey for work experience

Stephanie Bellamy, based in the firm’s Bournemouth office, visited the city of Izmir to work with Humphries Kirk’s Turkish associate, Dr. Banu Vardar, at her law firm, for two weeks.

During Stephanie’s secondment, she shadowed Banu and her team, assisting with various company commercial matters, as well as family and debt recovery cases which involved attending the Courts in Izmir. Stephanie was exposed to various client meetings where she was able to build a rapport with the solicitors and clients she was introduced to. Stephanie was also given the chance to explore some of the history and events in the local area, including taking a look around the ancient city, Ephesus.

Stephanie said: “Being offered legal experience at a law firm in Turkey was a fantastic opportunity for me and one I will remember forever. Banu and her team made me feel ever so welcome and were all very hospitable. I learnt a great deal during my time there and was even able to improve my Turkish.”

James Selby Bennett, partner at Humphries Kirk, said, “We are so grateful to Dr. Banu Vardar for taking on one of our trainee solicitors, Stephanie, for a secondment and allowing her to have a huge insight into how a Turkish law firm operates.

“Throughout the years we have worked closely with many of our international clients and associates and we will continue to uphold our relationship with them. When Banu made the kind offer to welcome a member of the HKI Network for work experience, we were keen for Stephanie to take up the opportunity.

“As a firm, we are keen to help the younger members of the team to continue developing their legal knowledge and skills to their full potential.”

James continued, “We look forward to welcoming one of Banu’s trainee solicitors to our offices later in the year.”