Johnsons Solicitors has announced its largest ever cohort of newly qualified solicitors and trainees at its Belfast offices. The firm said five newly qualified solicitors and four trainees have joined this September.

Joel Whitten and Kaitlin Small completed their training contracts at Johnsons and are now qualified solicitors. They are joined by Alex Jeffers, Matthew Murray and Robert Reid, who qualified elsewhere. The new solicitors will work across the firm's litigation, corporate and private client departments.

The new trainees include former paralegals Hugh O'Hare, Katy Reilly and Grace Tweedie, along with Lara Hatwell. They have commenced their training contracts.

Managing partner Kenny Chambers said the firm is pleased to welcome the group. He noted that he and partner David Holley joined the firm 35 years ago as trainee and solicitor respectively.

Chambers said the new lawyers are starting their careers as the practice prepares to move to new premises in Belfast and Dublin. He expressed confidence that the new generation will provide legal services expected by clients.