A JUNIOR lawyer, who waited for over a year to join one of the region’s top firms, has qualified as a solicitor.

Sarah Whalley has successfully completed a two-year training contract with Butcher and Barlow LLP, one of the largest independent law firms in the north west.

She’ll be based at the firm’s Leigh office in Railway Road, where she will specialise in litigation cases, wills and probate.

Sarah, 25, graduated with an first class honours degree from the University of Leeds, followed by a year at Chester College of Law.

While at Chester she was offered a training contract with Butcher and Barlow.

“Training contracts are like gold dust, a lot of firms have stopped employing but luckily Butcher and Barlow has continued. The majority of the firm’s partners started as trainees which also shows there’s great prospects for the future,” she said.

As a newly qualified solicitor Sarah is also looking ahead to taking part in the Christie’s Will Week.

“The Christe’s Will Week allows clients to come into the office to make a new Will, with the fees which they would normally be paid to us being donated to the charity instead. This is really rewarding work, I am pleased to be able to assist the local community and a worthy charity at the same time,” she said.