Christopher Blackett

Trainee Solicitor

Job Role at EMG

I joined the firm in September 2024 as a Trainee Solicitor. I am currently undertaking my first seat in the Dispute Resolution department, where I assist the team on a variety of matters including commercial disputes and inheritance disputes. I particularly enjoy dealing with property and landlord/tenant disputes (both commercial and residential) and employment issues.

Experience

I graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2013 with a First in Law and went on to complete my Legal Practice Course in 2017 with Distinction at Northumbria University, receiving numerous academic and extra-curricular awards.

For the past five years I have been a Specialist Debt Caseworker and Money Advice Supervisor at Citizens Advice. I have extensive experience of supporting vulnerable clients and I am knowledgeable in all aspects of social welfare advice, with expertise in possession claims for rent or mortgage arrears and challenging debts accrued through fraud and financial abuse, mental ill-health or lack of capacity. I worked on local and national projects, trained many new caseworkers, and helped develop training, processes and standards which are now used throughout England.

Previously I have been a paralegal in high street firms, primarily working in public child law and private family law, personal injury, employment law and general litigation and dabbled in wills, criminal defence and regulatory matters. I also worked for a charity as a Victim Support Coordinator, with a focus on helping survivors of domestic abuse and hate crime, and as an IT trainer for a local Council’s HR and Children Services departments.

I am delighted to be joining EMG as a Trainee Solicitor, returning to my roots of providing legal advice and assistance directly to those who need it to make a real difference in their lives.

What do you like about working at EMG?

The supportive atmosphere, friendly approachable colleagues, and the commitment from everyone at the firm to providing excellent client service and achieving the best possible outcomes for all. Everyone wants the best for their clients and colleagues, and they will do all they can do support you and help you grow – this was so clear throughout the training contract assessment centre and interviews I attended that I knew EMG was the firm for me, and I was thrilled to join.

Even though I am a Trainee, my colleagues appreciate my experience and trust in my ability which makes me feel like a valued member of the team, while also providing lots of opportunities to develop my skills. There is always plenty to do and the work is diverse – I am never bored.

The perks aren’t too bad either!

Outside of EMG?

Outside of work, I indulge in many geeky hobbies. In addition to the usual video games and fantasy novels, I enjoy TTRPGS like Dungeons and Dragons (both as a player and Games Master), the Warhammer tabletop wargames, and Magic the Gathering. I consider myself a bit of an amateur landscape photographer and have recently taken up drone photography. I also enjoy Japanese food and live music; I can often be found at The Glasshouse listening to a classical concert or travelling around the North to see obscure metal bands.