Maddi Worton showed her legal mettle from the moment she arrived at Falmouth-based law firm Hine Downing five years ago - and now she and her colleagues are celebrating her qualification as a fully-fledged solicitor, specialising in commercial property.

She joined the firm with a degree in law from Exeter University and with mentoring and encouragement from the firm’s partners has worked her way through the various levels of legal qualification - achieving a distinction in her legal practice course in the run-up to becoming a solicitor.

“To undertake this route to qualification is not for the faint-hearted,” said partner John Lowry, who has trained and monitored her progress as she familiarised herself with the activities of a commercial property solicitor.

“To achieve the grades she has whilst doing a full time job, commuting between Bude and Falmouth every day, is a remarkable achievement. Maddi relishes the challenges of new experiences – but equally she is calm, patient and understanding in her dealings with clients and has the wonderful ability to put people at their ease.”

Maddi herself credits the Hine Downing team with teaching her all she knows. “I would say that they gave me an amazing opportunity all those years ago by offering me a job," she said. "Without that chance I have no idea whether I could have come so far, so I am eternally grateful for their support and expertise which has helped me get where I am today."