A young Warwickshire lawyer has been awarded the prestigious STEP Diploma and passed her exams with an overall distinction.
Louise Hewston, a solicitor in Lodders’ private client division, can now count herself a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
STEP is the professional body for the trust and estate profession in the UKand worldwide and currently has over 13,000 members.
STEP members come from the legal, accountancy, corporate trust, banking, insurance and related professions, and are involved at all levels in the planning, creation and management of, and accounting for, trusts and estates, executorship and related taxes.
In order to become a STEP member, it is necessary to obtain a diploma which involves passing four exams in the Administration of Estates, Administration of Trusts, Taxation of Trusts and Estates and Trust and Estate Accounting.
Louise Hewston said: “It is also necessary to have two years’ work experience in the trust and estate field – which can include working while you have been studying.
“Once those conditions have been satisfied, you are invited to upgrade from a student member to a full member and you are permitted to use the designation TEP.
“I began the diploma in June 2006 having qualified as a solicitor in October 2005 and I completed my last exam in May this year, achieving a distinction overall.”
Lodders’ partner Martin Green, who heads the firm’s private client division, said: “The STEP Diploma is well recognised and highly regarded amongst private client professionals, and we are very proud that Louise has achieved this landmark at such an early stage of her career.”
