Co Tyrone-based Corrigan McGrade Solicitors opened its doors in Dromore in May 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic, and grew with the opening of its second office in Omagh in March this year.

Founders Patrick Corrigan and Philip McGrade had long discussed the idea of establishing a practice together, having become friends while studying at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) over a decade ago.

The pair built up a good local reputation with their work in well-known local firms – Mr Corrigan in Logan & Corry Solicitors and Mr McGrade in Murnaghan Colton Solicitors – before deciding to take the plunge in 2019.

Originally planning to launch just after Easter 2020, the pair were forced to reassess their plans in light of the global health crisis, Mr McGrade told Irish Legal News. However, they decided there was no going back and pressed on.

Mr McGrade said: “We began on the 1st of May last year, so we just celebrated our 12-month anniversary a few weeks ago. Times were strange back then. There was a lot of uncertainty, nobody knew what was ahead, both health-wise and business-wise.”

Mr Corrigan said: “The pandemic was only kicking in at that stage. The country was locking down and everybody’s priority, understandably, was their health and the health of their family.

“We were trying to open a business but we still had that in the back of our minds. Your family’s health, your parents, that always comes as a priority. Nobody knew what was going to happen in the next two months, never mind the next two years.”

He added: “It was probably a good thing for us to be able to focus on our business and take our minds off the pandemic at that stage, which was very scary for everybody.”

Opening during the strictest public health regulations also presented some unusual benefits for the new firm. For starters, the pair were able to focus on the administrative work of setting up the firm and its systems at a more relaxed pace.

Most importantly, though, the firm’s opening during such a challenging time was widely welcomed in the local community.

“When all firms locally were closing their doors, we were opening our doors,” Mr Corrigan said. “A lot of people reacted to that positively, and we got a lot of work out of that.”

The firm enjoyed another “bounce” in demand after opening its second office in Omagh this year.

As experienced conveyancers, the pair have benefited from the “buoyant” property market in recent months, as well as strong demand for probate and wills – the “bread and butter” of rural practices.

Mr Corrigan brings particular experience in personal injury law to the general practice firm and the pair hope to continue to meet the local community’s demand for legal services.

“We feel that we do provide clients with high-quality legal services and that’s the main aim, to get that stability and maintain that level of quality for our clients, and that will hopefully organically grow the business,” he said.

“We’re glad to get the first year out of the way, definitely. On to year two!”