Jonathan Sharp, Managing Partner, and Mandy Arkell, Chartered Legal Executive Advocate, at the local law firm Hartley & Worstenholme, based in Pontefract and Castleford have recently gained specialist qualifications respectively as a Notary and Children Panel Member.

Jonathan, a commercial property solicitor, is now one of around 850 Notaries in England and Wales to be qualified. As a Notary, he is primarily concerned with the authentication and certification of signatures, authority and capacity relating to documents for use abroad.

Jonathan is delighted to be able to offer this service to clients stating that “It is a great achievement to qualify as a Notary, in the third and oldest branch of the legal profession, and I am looking forward to offering Notarial services to our clients.”

Following her qualification, Mandy is now a member of the Children Law Accreditation Scheme (the Children Panel) and the only scheme member based in Castleford. She regularly appears in Family Courts throughout Yorkshire in applications involving children as well as financial and domestic violence proceedings. Mandy represents and assists children, parents and other family members where a Local Authority Social Services Department has become involved with the family.

Mandy, who lives in Castleford and has worked for Hartley & Worstenholme since 1993 said “I am extremely proud to become a member of the Children Law Accreditation Scheme. This is something I have been working towards for many years. I am now able to represent children, parents and other family members and advise them where Social Services or the Local Authority is involved”.