Codie Slessor took a chance and left school at 17 to work as an apprentice for a Carlisle law firm. Now he is a qualified legal executive

 Codie Slessor, 27, is a Chartered Legal Executive at Wragg Mark-Bell Solicitors in Carlisle. He is also an Accredited Police Station Representative at Carlisle Police Station.

He says: "When I was a boy I loved football and dreamed of being a PE teacher but a change of teacher left me feeling disenchanted and searching for a new career. I knew I didn’t want to go to university, but I did want to find a good job with prospects. I was brought up to believe that if you worked hard and set your mind to something, you can achieve anything.

I had studied law for a year as a sixth former at Richard Rose Morton Academy when I made the big decision to leave school and work at Wragg Mark-Bell Solicitors in Carlisle.

It was a decision I would never regret as now, 10 years later, I have qualified as a Fellow of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

It’s an exciting and varied job that can take me from my desk in the conveyancing department to the police station where, as an Accredited Police Station Representative, I can be called out in the early hours to represent people charged with a variety of crimes from murder to assault and arson. No one day is the same and I love it.

When I was first offered the job, I imagined lots of suits and big desks - but this is a people job and we are a very approachable and friendly team. I worked on reception for a year before I moved across to the crime department, often taking trips to Crown Court to assist our solicitors and barristers. My “bread and butter” is conveyancing, but I am still on call one night a week as an Accredited Police Station Representative at the police station.

I spent most of Christmas Day last year at the police station. It can be hectic but I love the challenge.

The financial security that my job has given me has meant that my fiancee Hannah and I were able to buy our first home in Carlisle four years ago and now we’re planning our wedding for September. This job changed my life and I am so grateful that I was given this chance to prove myself.

When I am not at work I love spending time with Hannah and our much loved “Springer-ador” Lenny who is a great stress-buster! I also love watching football with my Dad. We both support Liverpool and I love sitting down with him to watch the match. I also like to keep fit and go to the gym.

I was born and brought up in Carlisle and feel very lucky to have found a career and home here. I love Cumbria and the Lakes and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

My Big Break was being offered a job as an apprentice at Wragg Mark-Bell. I started in business administration working on reception but it was made clear, right from the start, that there were opportunities to climb the ranks if I was prepared to work hard. I have been offered some fantastic training opportunities and have really enjoyed learning “on the frontline” working with the team. They have taught me so much."