Olivia James

Legal Assistant

Wills, Trusts & Probate

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My Approach

My primary role is to provide administrative and secretarial support to Chris Pemberton, Partner, in the Wills, Trusts and Probate (WTP) department, assisting with ensuring the smooth operation of Chris’s caseload and the day-to-day operations within the WTP team in Dorchester. I aim to embody the firm’s people focused values and pride myself on bringing enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and striving to do my best at all times. I aim to approach clients in a friendly and professional manner, working to build a strong and trusting rapport. I communicate with clients in a clear, responsive and respectful way. I recognise that this area of work can be highly sensitive at times, and therefore aim to approach all matters in a caring, empathetic and compassionate manner.

My Route to Ellis Jones

My route to Ellis Jones was unusual but typifies the firm’s values of putting people first. I approached the firm for work experience having found myself with an unexpected gap year before starting my master’s in law. Experiencing the positive, approachable, responsive and professional nature of the firm, along with the diversity of work, reinforced my ambition of pursuing a career in law and more specifically at Ellis Jones. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to be Chris’s legal assistant, I was eager to apply for the role. I feel very fortunate to start my legal career at Ellis Jones and am excited to see where this takes me.

Professional Associations & Qualifications

  • First Class Honours Degree in Geography (BSc) from Durham University.
  • I will be starting a Masters in Law with BPP University, Bristol in September 2026.

My Approach

My primary role is to provide administrative and secretarial support to Chris Pemberton, Partner, in the Wills, Trusts and Probate (WTP) department, assisting with ensuring the smooth operation of Chris’s caseload and the day-to-day operations within the WTP team in Dorchester. I aim to embody the firm’s people focused values and pride myself on bringing enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and striving to do my best at all times. I aim to approach clients in a friendly and professional manner, working to build a strong and trusting rapport. I communicate with clients in a clear, responsive and respectful way. I recognise that this area of work can be highly sensitive at times, and therefore aim to approach all matters in a caring, empathetic and compassionate manner.

My Route to Ellis Jones

My route to Ellis Jones was unusual but typifies the firm’s values of putting people first. I approached the firm for work experience having found myself with an unexpected gap year before starting my master’s in law. Experiencing the positive, approachable, responsive and professional nature of the firm, along with the diversity of work, reinforced my ambition of pursuing a career in law and more specifically at Ellis Jones. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to be Chris’s legal assistant, I was eager to apply for the role. I feel very fortunate to start my legal career at Ellis Jones and am excited to see where this takes me.

Professional Associations & Qualifications

  • First Class Honours Degree in Geography (BSc) from Durham University.
  • I will be starting a Masters in Law with BPP University, Bristol in September 2026.