ADVOC rising star and member of Stockholm based KLA Law firm, Ellinoora Hoppe, joined Ashfords' London office in early September for two weeks insight of life and practice in England and Wales.  An active member of ADVOC Junior Practice Group, Elli met with Yvonne Hills and other  junior lawyers at the ADVOC Junior Lawyers Global Meeting held in March of 2013, before returning to London for the full on Ashfords experience!
 
Elli likes to travel, meet new people and to get to know other cultures. After the Junior Lawyers Global Meeting in March, she realised that an internship at another ADVOC firm was an opportunity to mix some of her hobbies with the chance to establish a professional network both for her and between  law firms. When choosing a law firm to visit her main criteria was the language. In order to gain something from this experience, Elli realised she would need to understand what the colleagues were saying. Because of London´s international flare, Elli immediately knew where she would like to go.
 
Elli works primarily for commercial clients on contentious and non-contentious matters, so was keen to get the broadest possible experience. Highlights would undoubtedly include two days at the Lands Tribunal with Senior Counsel, working alongside fee earners on active matters and a day at the Old Bailey (as an observer!).  An exchange with another ADVOC firm is a great way to build professional connections and gain an understanding of how it's done in another country, all of which can be of inspiration when back at work.
 
 It was a great opportunity to catch up with junior ADVOC members from  London.  Junior ADVOC members Nadya Price and Enrique Sibauste from Patton, Moreno and Asvat, Panama joined Tamara Humphreys, Danielle Spalding, Elli and Yvonne for dinner and a glass of wine to share their Advoc news.
 
With so much on offer in London, it was a great opportunity to get out and explore the capital and the working lives of Ashfords solicitors. Whether it was the property social held by Lloyds Bank, a cultural night out to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe with Women In Property, chillibacks with Ashfords clients at Dalston's Street Feast or afternoon tea at Fortnum and Masons, the social calendar didn't disappoint. It wasn't all about London, Exeter got a look in too.  Yvonne and Elli caught the early train for some time at Ashford's head office and to learn more about the firm before a night on the town with Simon Rous, Jane Ireland, Becky Rous, Tamara Humphreys and Bronwen Jones.