A woman who began her career in law as a 15-year-old on work experience has become the country's youngest ever female judge.

Briony Clarke, 31, was sworn in as a deputy district judge at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday. Her swift ascent has seen her stay at the same Essex firm where she first did a work placement as a teenager, Taylor Haldane Barlex LLP (THB) in Chelmsford.

She was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2009, became an accredited Duty Solicitor in 2010, an associate at THB in 2013, and a partner there in 2014. As as he took her judicial oaths yesterday, Judge Charles Gratwicke described her as "one of our own."