Success for Cumbrian legal experts

One of Cartmell Shepherd’s Apprentice Solicitors is celebrating the next step in his legal career.

Joseph Halvorsen has completed his Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQEs) and been admitted to the national roll of solicitors.

Meanwhile, his colleague Carolina Brianezi- Melchior has finished stage one of her SQEs as well as receiving the joint highest score for her MA Law degree cohort nationally at the University of Law.

Joseph has qualified into the Dispute Resolution department, based at Viaduct House in Carlisle. Before joining the firm, he qualified from Lancaster University with a First Class Honours in Law (Clinical Learning) LLB Hons, achieving a Law School certificate as the top final year student for 2022-23. In 2025, he was also an Apprentice of the Year finalist in the National Law Awards.

Out of the office, Joseph is a keen footballer who loves watching live sport, as well as taking to the pitch himself.

“I love the variety of working in the Dispute Resolution department,” he said. “It’s rewarding to support my clients through challenging situations and help them achieve solutions that reflect their objectives and priorities.

“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at Cartmell Shepherd who has supported me throughout my training and I’m proud to be progressing to the next stage of my career. I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s success as I build my own caseload and put everything I’ve learned into practice.”

Hot on Joseph’s heels in her training is Carolina Brianezi- Melchior. She has just been notified of the results which saw her placed joint first in the country across every campus of the University of Law.

Brazilian-born Carolina is a former teacher who decided to convert to a legal career when she moved to Cumbria. She joined Cartmell Shepherd as a secretary in 2023 and says it was always her plan to become a solicitor. She got her training contract with the firm in 2024, is also based in the Dispute Resolution team, and should complete all her qualifications in November this year.

“I was delighted and genuinely surprised by the result,” she says. “I knew I had worked hard throughout the course, but it was fantastic to learn that I had achieved joint top place in my cohort.”

“Cartmell Shepherd have supported me every step of the way. They have always encouraged my development and ambitions, and achieving this result feels like the culmination of that support and hard work. I am looking forward to qualifying into the firm’s Business Services team later in the year and continuing to build on my experience. I am excited to work alongside the team to support our clients and provide practical, commercially-focused advice.”

Mark Jackson, Director at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said: “Many congratulations to both Joseph and Carolina on their fantastic achievements. Their commitment, hard work and determination really reflect the strength of talent we are proud to nurture at Cartmell Shepherd. It’s a pleasure to support them as they progress in their careers, and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive and contribute to the success of the firm and our clients.”

Cartmell Shepherd’s Dispute Resolution team deals with everything from civil litigation and landlord disputes, to contentious probate and contractual issues. Contact them on 01228 516666 or email enquiries@cartmells.co.uk

Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors works with clients across Northumberland, Cumbria and nationally. It has seven offices, with two in Carlisle, as well as Brampton, Penrith, Cockermouth, Haltwhistle and Hexham.