CRUTES Law Firm has appointed ELLIE CHRISTIE as a graduate paralegal.

Ms Christie, originally from Salisbury, has joined the Newcastle office after graduating from Northumbria University and completing a degree in business management and marketing.

She will be working in Crutes' commercial property department on land sales, leases and local authority right-to-buy sales.

Ms Christie will continue with her studies and hopes to qualify as solicitor.

Crutes has seen a 20 per cent increase in staff during the past year.