We are here to serve our community

Watson Woodhouse

 

Watson Woodhouse are very committed to getting involved and supporting the local community, can you say why this is important to the company?

Watson Woodhouse began as community based solicitors and while we have grown to have over 160 employees with branch offices in 9 different locations, we have never forgotten the fact that we are here to serve our community. For example, all of our offices are located in the heart of communities to ensure they are as accessible as possible for local people. We want to be in the high street not in trading estates.

 

What sort of things have Watson Woodhouse got involved with in the local community?

Alongside supporting a number of local charities including Daisy Chain, we like to work closely with the community. This can range from activities such as volunteering at food banks through to organising pop-up free law clinics at charities and community centres. We also like to work with local schools. For example, recently we supported law students at All Saints Academy in Ingleby Barwick to enter a National Magistrates Mock Trial Competition which took place in Birmingham. We were absolutely delighted that they came third!

 

You recently opened your free community law clinic in Stockton - how has this gone, and has it been a success?

We strongly believe that expert legal advice should be available to all and not just to those who can afford it. To help achieve this, we run a number of community law clinics where local people can call in and gain expert legal advice for free. The clinics at our Stockton High Street office have been particularly successful and we have helped hundreds of local people since opening.

 

How did you first become involved with Daisy Chain?

Prior to opening our Stockton High Street office, we visited a number community organisations in the Stockton area to get a feel for the community and how we could support it best. When we visited Daisy Chain, we were completely blown away by the amazing work you do for local families affected by autism.

 

Watson Woodhouse have been great advocates of Daisy Chain’s work placement scheme, can you tell us how you got involved and the benefits it has had to the company?

We first heard about the scheme at one of the Friends of Daisy Chain meetings and thought it sounded like something we would like to be involved in. The process of gaining a placement student couldn’t have been easier or more supportive. Daisy Chain work hard to ensure that each company receives a placement with the skills and attributes suitable and that the student goes to a company that matches their career interests. So, it is a win-win.

We have worked with our current placement student for a couple of months now and we couldn’t be happier with their performance within the firm. They have fitted in brilliantly and have carried out every task given to them to the highest of standards. We unreservedly recommend this scheme to other companies.

 

As we turn 15 this year, we are asking everyone to share a memory of Daisy Chain they have - it can be very recent or something from a long time ago - anything you can think of!

When we think about Daisy Chain, the main thing that springs to mind is not a single memory or activity but rather the positive attitude of the staff. No matter who we speak to, they approach every interaction with a positive can-do attitude.