An army officer who decided to swap his life in the military for a career in law is thriving in his new career.

Mark Hood spent 20 years in the armed forces but in 2015, he decided to change vocation completely and become a solicitor.

Two years on, he has passed his Graduate Diploma in Law and his Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in Bristol, and he is now starting his training at Battens Solicitors.

Mr Hood said: "I’d considered entering law when I was younger and came across it during my army career, particularly when applying military law to the situations soldiers found themselves in, but it wasn’t until more recently that the time felt right for me to make the change.”

“The army prepared me in many different ways for a career in the legal profession. I remember, during a presentation at a university open day, mentally ticking off the qualities a successful solicitor needed to have: the ability to prioritise intelligently, teamwork, working to deadlines, an ability to communicate ideas, flexibility, adaptability and integrity.

"I could see that I had developed every one of those attributes during my time in the forces and I knew that my military training and the experience I had gained would stand me in good stead for my career change. That presentation really confirmed to me that I had a great deal to offer a future employer.”

Mr Hood now works as a trainee solicitor at Battens Solicitors in Dorchester, dealing primarily with wills and estates.

Peter Livingstone, who heads up trainees at Battens said: "Members of the armed forces, both by aptitude and as a result of their training and experience, have an approach to doing things which is slightly different from the norm. They are direct and pragmatic, clear communicators and problem-solvers. They are excellent people to have around when you want to get something done.

“Mark’s military background gives him a fantastic chance of making a very good solicitor. Battens is a great place for him to embark upon his second career, not only because we offer good flexibility, but because we can provide our trainees with early hands-on work, which means that they waste no time in getting stuck in.”

Mr Hood added: "Changing my career after 20 years in the Army may have seemed like a risk, but anyone can do it provided they are prepared to work very hard and are resilient, single-minded and focussed. I’m very happy with the decision I made and when it comes to my role as a lawyer at Battens, I plan to be the best.”

Battens Solicitors employs more than 150 staff in seven regional offices across Yeovil, Sherborne, Dorchester, Weymouth, Wareham, Bath and London.