A 27-year-old trainee lawyer from High Barnet has overcome dyslexia and a string of rejections to be shortlisted for a national legal award.

Omolarami Ayodeji, from Bedford Avenue, has been shortlisted for the award for Junior Lawyer of the Year at the Law Society’s Excellence Awards.

Miss Omolarami is currently a trainee solicitor at Duncan Lewis in Shepherds Bush having overcome dyslexia and a string of training contract rejection letters.

She said: “I was so taken aback to be shortlisted after all that I have gone through.

“I was always told that I wasn’t bright enough to be a lawyer. I have struggled at every stage.

“I got rejection letter after rejection letter for training contracts but then I was finally diagnosed with dyslexia.

“It was a great breakthrough to discover that I am dyslexic – it explained why I have struggled.”

Miss Omolarami was nominated for the award by her supervisor at work.

She was then shortlisted by a panel of judges at the Law Society who were impressed by the pro bono work she has done.

The young lawyer set up a free legal advice session for families in High Barnet which she runs every Monday afternoon at Underhill School in Mays Lane.

She said: “Hopefully I will win as it will help the free legal advice service I run.

“I always wanted to do something to help the people of High Barnet as it is an area that is very close to my heart.

“I want to be there to help families who need a bit of support.”

Miss Omolarami, who was born in Nigeria but has lived in Barnet since she was one, will attend an award ceremony at Old Billingsgate, London, on October 18.

At this event she will discover if she has won the award.

She said: “I don’t want to get my hopes up but if I won I would be speechless.

“I would be so happy that I won something despite all my doubters.

“If I won my main message to people would be to keep going and to persist. You have to block out the negative people and letters.

“The most important thing for me is that winning would also help with the pro bono work I do.

“I believe that everyone has a right to access legal support.”