05 Mar, 2015/ by National Accident Helpline /Campaigns, Future Legal Mind, News
Ten of the UK's brightest young legal talents remain in the running to win one of two £5,000 prizes, and an invaluable work experience opportunity, as National Accident Helpline releases the names of the shortlisted candidates for its 2015 Future Legal Mind award.
The competition winners, one undergraduate student and one postgraduate student, will receive £5,000 towards their studies as well as a much-coveted placement at leading solicitor firm Colemans-ctts.
Entrants were asked to submit a 1,000-word essay, demonstrating a combination of original thinking and sharp legal insight into the important issue of access to justice. The winning response will be published by Lawyer 2B, the leading publication aimed at aspiring lawyers.
The award is being judged by an expert panel comprising Russell Atkinson, CEO, NAHL Group PLC; Jonathan White, Legal Director, National Accident Helpline; Janet Tilley, National Managing Partner, Colemans-ctts; Gary Slapper, Global Professor at New York University, and Richard Simmons, editor, Lawyer 2B. The judges met on Monday 2 March to compile a five-person shortlist in each category and, after much deliberation, are pleased to announce that the finalists in the undergraduate category are:
- Tarandeep Ghatrora, Cardiff University
- Amy Loughery, University of York
- Oliver Orchant, University of Glasgow
- Victoria Rowley, University of Nottingham
- Eyram Abla Seckley, University of Kent
Those shortlisted in the postgraduate category are:
- Benjamin Burns, City Law School, London
- Tarwireyi Chadoka, University of South Wales
- Lukas Hamilton Eddy, City University, London
- Maria Javed, BPP University, London
- Christopher Rush, University of Bristol
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Lincoln's Inn in London on 30 March.
For more information on the shortlisted candidates and the awards scheme, please visit: national-accident-helpline.co.uk/news/future-legal-mind.
Russell Atkinson, CEO of National Accident Helpline and chair of the judging panel, said:
National Accident Helpline is passionate about securing access to justice for our customers, and we are delighted that some of the UK's most exciting legal prospects share our commitment.
We are delighted with the quality of the entrants and look forward to giving two outstanding students the best possible start to their dream career in law.
We know that many talented law students find the cost of studying prohibitive, so the £5,000 prize will make a real difference to the winning candidates.
Janet Tilley, National Managing Partner at Colemans-ctts, said:
We have been delighted to team up with National Accident Helpline to provide this exceptional opportunity for young lawyers. Our justice system is world-renowned, but it will only remain so if run by people who are committed to making justice available to all.
A commitment to this principle shone through from all of our finalists and if this year's entrants are anything to go by, the future of our legal system is brighter than ever.
Gary Slapper, Global Professor of Law at New York University, said:
Law is something that affects everyone, all the time. The law is everyone's law.
As law touches all parts of life, who gets to study law, and to be society's lawyers and judges is important.
It is critical that the law enjoys the expertise and experience of a wide range of people in its fabric but the very high costs of legal study today can prohibit some good candidates or cause them to struggle in their study when suffering financial hardship.
The prizes in this competition will be of considerable help in facilitating law students of great merit to fulfil their potential and to serve society.