A LAW student is delighted to have been awarded a training contract with a firm of solicitors.

Lydia Jones, originally from Barrow, has been awarded a training contract with Carlisle solicitors Cartmell Shepherd.

The University of Cumbria Law student said: “I was over the moon when I heard I’d been accepted for a training place - it makes all the hard work worth it. I am really happy to know my future lies in Cumbria with an excellent local firm. I was relieved too, as I left full-time work to study to become a solicitor and I needed the training contract to help me qualify.”

Miss Jones, who has Carlisle-based for five years, credits her programme at the University of Cumbria with securing her the place.

She said: “Without the law degree I would not have achieved the grades to enable me to go onto the next stage of my training. Every tutor has been supportive and they are all experts in their field. The University of Cumbria law school also has excellent contacts with local firms and, without this, I don't think I would have got to the point I am at today. “

The university's principal lecturer in law, Ann Thanaraj, said: “Training contracts are incredibly difficult to come by and we are proud that our law degree has been extremely successful in getting students into legal work.

“Lydia is one of our most hardworking and dedicated students, extremely conscientious and reliable. Her academic achievements, combined with her personal attributes, excellent communication skills and business acumen, have led to Lydia securing this training contract. She also held the position of vice president of career planning in our student law society during the summer months, and helped with organising our annual law conference in 2015.”

Managing director and head of business services at Cartmell Shepherd, Peter Stafford, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer a training contract to Lydia. We are always keen to employ local people. Lydia is someone who has worked for us and meets that criteria. She is an extremely promising candidate who will be a great addition to the profession in Cumbria. Her career path hasn't been straight forward and again, that is of interest to Cartmell Shepherd as a local employer. She is the second person we have offered a training contract to who is a University of Cumbria student and hopefully there will be many more."

Miss Jones will take up her training contract in September 2018.