community
01962 844544 www . shentons . co . uk 35
community
Connecting crime and community
The law is at the heart of everything says Chloe Jay , senior partner at Shentons Solicitors
When Chloe Jay was 13 years old she went on a month ’ s work experience with the Crown Prosecution Service , attending criminal proceedings at Portsmouth Crown Court . Chloe found Court enthralling and wanted to be part of that world .
Fast forward and Chloe is a solicitor advocate who has practised criminal law since 2005 and been with Shentons Solicitors since 2012 , becoming a partner in 2016 and being appointed as Shentons ’ first female senior partner this year .
“ We are completely female-owned and 90 % of our staff are female so it makes sense to have a woman at the top , ˮ Chloe says . “ It makes a difference for the people working for you to have that representation . We are proud to have encouraged women , who left law to have children , to return by offering flexible working and part-time hours . ˮ
Louise Richardson , a solicitor in the property department , is one . Two other working mothers making a valuable contribution to the practice are Hannah Adams and Tangiwai Candy , who head up the Special Needs Department . They fight to get children who fall through the net the education and support they deserve . This is a service not widely available in solicitors ’ practices .
More women are coming into the law and Chloe argues their listening skills , empathy and compassion are very much needed . “ I don ’ t find it hard to feel compassion for most people . I deal with a lot of young people who have learning difficulties or struggle with addiction . You hear people ’ s stories . They almost always come from lives of poverty and deprivation growing up . With the right support these young people could have had different futures . ˮ
Chloe has worked on everything from murder to speeding fines , guiding clients through Court and fighting to achieve the best outcome for them . A lot of this work is not well funded , but access to justice for all is a key concept for Chloe . She lobbies for improvements to the Criminal Justice System , regularly meeting with MPs and other notable figures . She is the representative for Hampshire criminal law firms on the Local Criminal Justice Board , and was recognised for her contribution with a Law Society award .
Chloe and the team consider it their social responsibility to do what they can for the community . “ We see the vulnerable in our working week and we want to support them . We volunteer at Trinity
Winchester , we have skydived to raise money for Trinity , and we do their Big Sleep Out every year . This is part of Shentons ’ ethos . If you support this firm with your work , you are supporting the community ... Justice is at the heart of everything . ˮ
01962 844544 www . shentons . co . uk 35