Ms Shannon, a property lawyer specialising in all aspects of residential and commercial conveyancing, will join in partnership with senior partner Alan Reid and partners Eileen McLarnon, Aidan Donnelly, John O’Prey and Ronnie Lowry.

She joined the firm as a paralegal before commencing her formal apprenticeship, qualifying as a solicitor in 2010. She is a member of the firm’s property department and also assists in the private client team, with experience in dealing with wills and administration of estates.

Ms Shannon is a member of the Company and Commercial Lawyers Group and the Northern Ireland Commercial Property Lawyers Association (NICPLA), and she also serves on the remuneration panel of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as partner in Murlands. I feel deeply rooted in the Murlands ‘family’, having been brought up in the local area, completed my apprenticeship in the firm, and having established strong client relationships here.

“I must pay tribute to the exceptional investment in my professional development which I have received from all the partners at Murlands, including the late Barry Finlay, our former senior partner.

“I am honoured to now be joining a partnership with such a wealth of experience and expertise, and I am committed to continuing to provide our clients with the highest levels of legal advice and personal service.”

Mr Reid said: “We very much welcome the addition of Sarah to the partnership as a richly deserved recognition of her excellent skills and ability as a lawyer.

“Welcoming a new partner in the firm’s 190th year also signals our continued development and commitment to our clients both locally and further afield. We believe that in a fast-paced world it is more important than ever for us to maintain our close connections with our clients and to have a clear understanding of their needs and circumstances.

“Sarah has throughout her career to date formed exactly this kind of professional relationship with her clients and we are confident that she will play a key role in ensuring that our clients continue to benefit from the Murlands brand of legal service: traditional values, timeless experience, and modern solutions.”

Founded in 1832 in Downpatrick as James Murland & Company, Murlands is one of the longest-established legal practices in Northern Ireland with offices in Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and Carryduff.