EXPANDING Ringwood law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors has appointed three trainees.

Luke Baldwin, previously a paralegal in the banking and finance litigation department since 2013, is now a trainee solicitor.

The 25-year-old studied law at the University of Southampton before joining a claims management company as a litigation officer.

Annie James has joined Ellis Jones’ private client department after studying at Bournemouth University.

A keen horse-rider in her spare time, Annie, 24, founded the Bournemouth University Horse Riding Society and now rides in Verwood, often competing locally.

The third trainee, Bethanie Watson, has joined the conveyancing department.

Aged 22, she spent her holidays working at the firm while studying her law degree at Bristol University of the West of England and legal practice course (LPC) at Guildford.