A LEGAL eagle from Bolton became one of the first to graduate from a unique law course at the University of Central Lancashire.

Claudia Doherty, from Bolton was one of 12 to don caps and gowns and graduate in MLaw.

The four year course is unique because it has combined two courses, the undergraduate law degree (LLB) with the postgraduate Legal Practice Course (LPC), into one.

Claudia, aged 22, is now working as a solicitor.

She said:" It’s been a fantastic course to be part of and I know we’re all delighted to be the first ones graduating. The four year programme has been great for studying because it’s made modules more integrated and it’s also been more financially viable.”

As well as building practical legal knowledge, students took part in two supervised pro-bono legal clinics, one general and one business-focused, to gain experience of life as a solicitor.

Jane Anthony, Dean of the Lancashire Law School, said: “We’re all incredibly proud of this cohort.

"This is a very innovative course which integrates the academic and practical side of legal training into one four year Masters programme.

"Students have a fantastic learning experience and benefit from four years of student finance, rather than having to fund the Legal Practice Course privately.

"These students have certainly made the most of all of their opportunities — they have managed to fit in educational trips to Brussels, Cyprus and Geneva along the way. I am sure they all have illustrious careers in front of them.

"Congratulations to them all.”