Rising legal professional promoted to associate solicitor 

A legal professional who was crowned as Birmingham Law Society’s Solicitor of the Year has recently been promoted at a leading law firm.

Joel Blake of Wilkes has got the call-up as an associate solicitor in the firm’s private client team.

Joel, who trained at Wilkes qualified in 2022, and has built his practice in trusts and trust administration, wills, tax planning, probate and lasting powers of attorney.

In 2026 he was named Solicitor of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society awards.

The promotion marks a significant step in Joel’s legal career and reflects his progression within the profession following years of development and dedication.

Alongside his career, Joel has been involved with Aspiring solicitors and Birmingham Black Lawyers to help create visibility and support for others who might otherwise feel the profession isn’t open to them.

Joel said: “Becoming an associate at Wilkes is a really proud moment for me. It reflects a lot of hard work, development, and support from people around me throughout my career.

“Professionally, it’s an opportunity to continue growing within a strong private client team and to take on more responsibility.

“My advice to others would be to focus on resilience and perseverance. There will always be setbacks and rejections in this profession, but they don’t define your ability or your potential.”

<Joel Blake>