Leicester De Montfort Law School found an apt place to hold an awards ceremony for its brightest young legal eagles – the former city magistrates’ court.
The court, which was in operation until the 1990s, is now part of Leicester Castle Business School. Last week principal lecturer in Law, Neil Parpworth, was on the magistrates’ bench to preside over the Class of 2017 ceremony, rewarding those who had excelled in modules, dissertations and other academic achievements at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Prizes were presented by Tim Hillier, Associate Head of the Leicester De Montfort Law School.
Mr Parpworth told the students: “There has been a long tradition within the law school to present prizes to students who have not only done very well but have excelled within a particular module or across a whole programme.
“We would like to take this opportunity to mark your considerable achievements by awarding these prizes. It is marvellous that we can celebrate the very considerable success that you have had here.”
Diana Clough, Law LLB (Hons), was named best final year student. One of her lecturers Alwyn Jones said: “Her work demonstrates first-class critical research and analytical skills. In her jurisprudence module she used an original approach to a complex legal question and engaged with a range of legal theorists; some of these are quite obscure and their work is considered difficult by academics.”
Diana now plans to study International Relations at Manchester after being inspired to work for the United Nations following DMU’s first mass visit to New York in January. She said: “We were given a tour while we were on the #DMUglobal trip and I found it fascinating. It was very impressive and I could see myself working there.”
The Debs Evenden Memorial Prize was awarded in memory of the former DMU law lecturer, who was a talented advocate. Winner Jessica Horton said: “This award is special because Debs taught me lawyering in the first year so I remember her. I’m hoping to go on to do a Master’s and then a PhD because I am interested in an academic career. I would hope to study animal welfare law.”
Zena Begg, who studied Business Management and Law, was another of the prize winners. She said: “DMU has been really good – fun as well as good academically. I want to move into the business field and I’m applying for graduate jobs now. That’s what I liked about joint degrees – it gives you such a wide choice for future roles”
The Leicester De Montfort Law School has nearly 400 postgraduate students who study via its distance learning programmes.
Elizabeth Mearns, awarded best LLM student, is a medical doctor for NHS England. Her role involves dealing with medical practitioners who face GMC hearings and she wanted to learn more about the legal side of the process. She studied LLM Medical Law and Ethics. She said: “I realised I did not know how the law operated and so for me, this course was about developing that knowledge. It has been such a different way of thinking, I have done the science as a doctor, but the legal side has been fascinating.”
Gemma White is a barrister and mum of two, who chose the Sports Law and Practice LLM as she plans to specialise in this field. She was awarded the Sky Sports prize for best dissertation with principal lecturer Andy Gray praising her “sharp analytical approach”.
She said: “I have enjoyed it. I’m a practising barrister with two young children and it was hard work balancing it all, but very rewarding and we had plenty of support. The LLM allows you to develop your academic, analytical ability.”
LAW SCHOOL PRIZEWINNERS
Zena Begg – Best performance in Law by a final year student on a joint law degree programme
Katie Shaw – Leicestershire Law Society prize for best overall performance in the second year
Diana Clough – the Examiners’ Prize for best overall performance in the final year
Rachael Scott – Oxford Uni Press prize for best performance in constitutional and administrative law; Thomson Reuters prize for best overall performance in the first year
Jadepreet Sansoye - the LexisNexis Butterworths Prize for best performance in Law and Medicine (joint winner)
Maynka Patel – the LexisNexis Butterworths Prize for best performance in Law and Medicine (joint winner)
Jessica Horton – the Debs Evenden Memorial Prize for best student on the lawyering module
Gemma White – Sky Sports Prize for Best Sports Law and Practice Dissertation Student (joint winner)
Gordon Farquhar - Sky Sports Prize for Best Sports Law and Practice Dissertation Student (joint winner)
Karen Henderson – Best LLM Student (joint winner)
Elizabeth Mearns – Best LLM Student (joint winner)
Sofie De Beule Roloff – Best Performance in Employment Law LLM
Posted on Tuesday 25 July 2017