Lawyer gives advice until the cows come home

A former farmer is set to be the cream of the crop in his new job.

Jon Love farmed dairy cows from the age of 16 until a serious accident meant he had to rethink his career.

Now, after studying law at De Montfort University (DMU), the 43-year-old is giving advice to farmers as a trainee solicitor at one of the country's top agricultural legal firms.

Jon, originally from East Leake, Leicestershire, farmed 150 cows in Loughborough until he broke his back several years ago.

The father-of-two's injuries meant he was unable to work for a year and after the break up of his marriage had to leave his much-loved job.

"! had been a dairy farmer form the age of 16," he said. "I loved the cows. It was hard work but it was worth it and it was all I had ever done. But then I suffered a serious accident. It meant I couldn't do anything for a year and when I recovered, I couldn't go back to what I did before.

"I didn't know what to do next - I'd always been in farming. But I decided to go to university and I studied history. I thought about becoming a teacher but then I realised I didn't like children, only my own."

He thought about law after a friend mentioned there was an open day at De Montfort.

"It sounded good so I went along and I was really glad I did. It was really interesting and I realised it was what I wanted to do."

Jon studied for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and for the Legal Practice Course (LPC). "It was hard work as the GDL squeezed three years of study into one. I enjoyed it because it was interesting and the staff were very helpful."

Jon graduated from DMU in November and clinched a job as a trainee solicitor with one of the country's top agricultural law firms, Arnold Thomson, in Towcester, Northamptonshire.

It is a complete contrast to what I did before but I am really enjoying the work," said Jon. "We offer advice on almost all legal matters that can affect farmers.

"I think the fact that I used to be a farmer helps because I can understand where the farmers are coming from and the sorts of problems they might have."

DMU's Head of Professional Legal Studies, Sheree Peaple said: "We are delighted to have been able to help Jon to achieve a satisfying and meaningful second career, and wish him every success in the future."