Katherine Logan, 30, joined Edinburgh-based Gibson Kerr in 2014 as a result of a life-long interest in law, initially stemming from a love of true crime.

A former student of professional practice studies at Northumbria University, Katherine started her career in Newcastle in property management before taking up a secretarial position with Gibson Kerr after moving to East Lothian.

Having proven herself an exemplary team-member, Gibson Kerr encouraged her to become a trained paralegal through a specialist paralegal qualification in family law at the University of Strathclyde.

The avid Lake District walker has now become fully-qualified following an intensive 18-month course completed alongside her full-time role.

Ms Logan, 30, said: “I’m so happy to have become a paralegal and really begin to establish myself in the legal profession.

“I have always been interested in true-crime, and when I was younger I wanted to become a criminal defence lawyer. Knowing what I do now I feel I’ve definitely found my calling in family law.

“We work so closely with our clients in family law, when they are often at their lowest ebb, so it’s incredibly rewarding when they come out of the process satisfied.

“In my early professional career I’d become somewhat put off by law as I just didn’t think it was something I could get into without being a fully-fledged law graduate.

“I think it’s really encouraging to know that there are more ways of getting into law than the traditional route, and so it is far more accessible than I first thought.

“Completing the 18-month course whilst also working full time was sometimes tough but the support I received from Gibson Kerr and my family made it so much easier.”

Looking to the future, she hopes to continue her development with Gibson Kerr, with the potential of adding a law conversion degree to her qualifications.

Fiona Rasmusen, Katherine’s mentor and head of family law at Gibson Kerr, said: “We have seen so much potential in Katherine since she started here five years ago. She is incredibly passionate about law so we were just as eager as her to see her propel her law career.

“She brings so much energy to the team so it’s great to be able to give her progression from her valued secretarial role and into a more hands-on position so clients can experience that also.”