A FORMER Stourport High School pupil has been shortlisted for Solicitor of the Year for the third time in six years.

Specialist telecoms litigator Marcus Hayes, who left the school in 1981, heads up award-winning law firm Mason Hayes, and was awarded an MBE for his services to law and education earlier this year.

Marcus is one of only 10 solicitors out of the 140,000 practising in England and Wales to be nominated for the Law Society Excellence Awards' Solicitor of the Year category for 2019.

He was shortlisted for the same award in 2013, and was a runner-up in 2015.

Having carved out a successful career in the law, Marcus went on to establish the Mason Hayes Charitable Trust in 2009.

Focusing on improving the learning experience and performance of students from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special needs, the trust has provided financial and personal development support, mentoring and work placement opportunities to those who need it most at schools and universities.

Marcus remains a frequent visitor to Stourport where he was born. He ran a series of student workshops at Stourport High School and in 2014 was invited to be a guest speaker at its annual award ceremony.

Over the last few years, his trust has helped to donate more than £15,000 to Stourport Primary School, where he was also a student.

Commenting on his award nomination, Marcus said: “I am overwhelmed to have been shortlisted for the third time in six years for such a prestigious award alongside some phenomenal and talented solicitors.

The work I do, particularly through the charitable trust, is an integral part of the strategy of our business.

"We have a unique role to play in engaging clients and suppliers about social mobility which is why we work so hard to drive collaboration with our external stakeholders."