Brace yourselves for another Obiter scoop - or challenge. Raju Thapa has become the first Nepalese national to be admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.


Mr Thapa said: 'Neither the Nepalese embassy nor the Law Society have any record of another Nepalese citizen qualifying in this country as a solicitor.' He added that he was staying on with Asghar & Co in west London, where he has just completed his training contract, to work in its immigration department.



Obiter's own investigations have similarly failed to identify anyone to rival Mr Thapa's achievement. The closest we got was James Pyke of south London firm James Pyke and Co. He told Obiter that although he has been practising in England for a little over 40 years, he was born in Nepal and went to school there with members of the country's royal family. He even dated one of the princesses. Mr Pyke felt, however, that his dual Nepalese and British nationality disqualified him from pipping Mr Thapa to the post.



And there's the challenge. Is Mr Thapa the first Nepalese national to qualify - or do you know better?