Three new members of staff have joined leading law firm and partner of the network, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, which operates across Cumbria and Northumberland.

They have recruited the trio as part of its continued expansion. Solicitor Ingrid Fraser, Private Client Legal Executive Jane Oakley, and Paralegal Sarah Hinett, join a team of almost 90 staff working at the firm.

Ingrid, who specialises in wills, probate and inheritance, is based from Cartmell Shepherd’s Haltwhistle office; Jane becomes part of the Private Client team based at the Penrith office; and Sarah joins the Family Law department based at the firm’s city centre office at Viaduct House in Carlisle.

Peter Stafford, Managing Director of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said: “Our team is critical to the success of the business, and to delivering the best possible service for our clients.

“We are committed to creating fulfilling and rewarding career opportunities for all our staff, and I’m delighted to welcome Ingrid, Sarah and Jane to the Cartmell Shepherd team.”

Ingrid, who has practised as a solicitor for 17 years, joins Cartmell Shepherd’s Private Client team from Nicholson Portnell Solicitors in Hexham, where she worked for six years. Originally from Liverpool, she remained in the North East after completing her post-graduate studies in law, and worked for firms in Newcastle and Sunderland before joining Nicholson Portnell. She is a Full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be part of a larger firm, while still being part of a smaller team based from the Haltwhistle office,” she said.

Ingrid is married with two children and enjoys camping and caravanning holidays with her family. A keen runner, she is due to take part in this year’s Great North Run half-marathon in September.

A former police officer, Jane is only one exam away from qualifying as a CILEx Lawyer. She switched to the legal profession in 2004 when she joined the Criminal Law department at Arnison Heelis Solicitors in Penrith as a fee earner before transferring to their Private Client department in 2013. Jane is qualified through the CILEx Law School to degree level in Wills & Succession and Probate Practice, and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), an Affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a Student member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).

Jane said: “I’m really looking forward to starting the next stage of my career with Cartmell Shepherd. I started working in criminal law after leaving the police force but became interested in the Private Client sector while studying towards my Professional Diploma in Law and Practice with CILEx.”

Jane, who lives near Appleby with her husband and their two adult children, enjoys walking in the Lake District and the Northern Pennines.

Paralegal Sarah moved to Cumbria 14 years ago from Birmingham to be closer to her family who had relocated to the county a few years earlier. She lives in Penrith and is working towards a long-held ambition to summit all 214 Wainwright fells in the Lake District with her dad.

She said she was delighted to join Cartmell Shepherd’s Family Law department.

“I’ve always found family law interesting, but most importantly I wanted to work in a role where I can help people through stressful and difficult times in their lives,” she said.

Cartmell Shepherd has offices in Rosehill Carlisle, Carlisle city centre, Brampton, Penrith, Cockermouth, and Haltwhistle. The firm opened a new office in Main Street, Cockermouth last year, moving from its former base in Dovenby just outside the town.

The firm’s full range of legal services is available from all of its offices, delivered by its team of more than 40 solicitors based across Cumbria and Northumberland.

Cartmell Shepherd has remained open for business throughout the pandemic, with staff working from home wherever possible and client meetings by appointment. Under current restrictions, where a phone or virtual appointment is not possible, staff will meet clients in person with social distancing and other safety measures in place.

Cartmell Shepherd is the only legal firm in Cumbria to be a member of the innovative UK200Group, and offers specialist expertise to individuals and businesses across a wide range of sectors.