A PRESTON legal eagle is preparing to keep the scales of justice even after landing a job as a district judge.

Solicitor Michael Turner, who heads the litigation department at Naphen Houghton Craven, Preston, will step down from private legal practice to assume the prestigious public appointment in the New Year.

It is the first time a solicitor from the Winckley Square law practice has been singled out to become a full-time member of the judiciary.

Mr Turner takes up his new post at the start of next month and will sit as a district judge in Blackpool and Burnley, dealing with a wide range of matters in civic courts from family law to personal injury and insolvency cases.

He said: "I an honoured and delighted to have been selected for a public appointment and look forward to taking on my new duties.

"I will be sorry to leave NHC where I have spent many happy years working with good friends in an excellent practice.

"NHC has, in a large part, provided me with the expertise and experience to tackle on the new responsibilities which my appointment will bring."

Mr Turner has more than 28 years experience as a solicitor in private practice working in Preston.

He has represented clients on many high profile cases, most notably the Abbeystead disaster as a solicitor to the Scotforth House inquiry into the care and treatment of autistic children in Lancaster.

In 1984 he became a partner in Houghton Craven and Dicksons and remained at the firm following the merger with Naphens more than a decade ago. Three years ago Mr Turner was made deputy district judge, sitting part-time as a member of the judiciary.

NHC senior partner, Peter Hosker, who is chairman of the Appeals Tribunal on a part-time basis, said: "We offer our warm congratulations to Michael on his promotion and will be sorry to see him leave.

"Michael has been a valued and committed colleague. He was a founding member of the firm and he will be greatly missed by partners, staff and clients."

NHC partner Richard McDowell will take over as head of the law firm's Personal Injury department and solicitor Angela Garvey, who has considerable expertise in matrimonial law, will continue to work in the family department alongside managing partner John Woosnam.