Future Legal Mind
We believe it’s crucial to attract the very best people to the legal sector; our annual Future Legal Mind Award aims to identify the next generation of high fliers in the legal world and support their hard work and commitment.
Open to UK resident law students, the winner of Future Legal Mind is awarded a financial contribution towards their studies as well as a work experience placement at one of our high-quality legal firms.
Simon Trott, Managing Director of National Accident Helpline and chair of judges, says:
“It’s been heartening to see the positive impact the last three years’ awards has had on our winners, and we are excited to be offering this chance to a new group of students for Future Legal Mind Award 2018.”
Meet the Future Legal Mind 2018 finalists
April Sloan
April currently studies at University of Edinburgh for a Graduate LLB course. She previously graduated from University of Glasgow Dental School in 2013 and has been working as an NHS dental practitioner in Fife and Edinburgh for the past 5 years. Through her work, April realised that she wanted to move into a legal career with the aim of someday working in dental clinical negligence.
Upon learning that she had been shortlisted for Future Legal Mind 2018, April said: “I am both surprised and delighted as I did not expect to be shortlisted as I am at a reasonably early stage of my legal career.”
Rebecca Harrigan
Rebecca studies at London Metropolitan University, and is no stranger to the legal profession, having worked for a charity with trafficking victims as a support worker. Now, she works in an immigration department and studying in the evenings, all whilst looking after her young daughter.
After Rebecca was told that she had been listed as a Future Legal Mind finalist, she said: “I’m establishing my legal career and if I won, it would really boost my confidence and open doors for me in respect of future career options. The financial reward is also a great incentive!”
Hamad Naeem
Hamad is studying for a degree in Law (LLB), and works as a part-time A level and GCSE English tutor in between his studies, as well as writing scripts for films. He is also, by his own admission, “an overzealous Arsenal fan” and keen sportsman, regularly taking part in powerlifting and currently in training to reach the London Qualifiers.
Hamad was happy to have his work recognised, and was pleased to make it onto the Future Legal Mind 2018 shortlist: “Winning the competition would be nothing short of amazing. It would come as a culmination of the effort I put into researching and writing an article I hoped would be an engaging piece for the judges and all those who happen to read it.”
Liliya Tsvetanova
Liliya is currently studying at the University of Edinburgh for a Graduate LLB. She grew up in Bulgaria but has lived in Edinburgh for the past 10 years, and is the first of her family to attend university. In-between her studies, she works part-time in a bank on fraud-related issues, as well as being a member of the Edinburgh Law School Music Society.
“I am delighted and privileged to reach the final of the Future Legal Mind. Winning Future Legal Mind would lay the foundation of my future legal training by allowing me the opportunity to gain an insight into working in the legal sector”
Gbemisola Obolo
Gbemsiola is studying Law with International Relations at University of Surrey, and in her spare time works part-time in St Elizabeth’s Centre care home. She is also a keen singer, participating in a range of choirs, and also a published poet.
When Gbemisola learned that she had made it to the final stages of Future Legal Mind, she said: “I am grateful that my hard work and the skills that I have cultivated have been recognised. The amazing opportunity to have a work experience placement with a high-quality law firm would be an honour and will allow to me to develop my understanding of the practical work that takes place in a legal environment.”
Bethany Hargreaves
Bethany studies Law LLB with Criminology at University of Manchester. She volunteers in between her studies; both at a local visually impaired group and at an RSPCA shop as a sales assistant.
She is also a keen runner, having recently completed a 12-mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces; she said “I am delighted to have been shortlisted. It is a great feeling to have my work recognised. This has been an amazing experience”.
Thomas Mitty
Thomas is a student at University of Oxford, studying for a degree in Law. He is the president of his college Junior Common Room and also an avid climber, having once scaled a 6000-metre mountain. He hopes to one day qualify as a barrister and work within personal injury law.
When he heard that he had been shortlisted for Future Legal Mind, he said: “I’m over the moon to have been recognised. Law is a competitive profession. The award will make a big difference to anyone- to help fund further studies, to stand out in applications, and as encouragement that they have what it takes to give it a shot.”
Olivia Donlan
Olivia is currently studying Law LLB at Durham University. She is a keen football and tennis player in-between studying for her degree – her sporting talents also extend to martial arts, as she is the proud owner of a brown belt in karate.
Olivia was pleased to learn that she had made it onto the Future Legal Mind shortlist, saying: “I was so happy to be shortlisted and to win the competition would be such a privilege. It would allow me to gain work experience in such a competitive industry, which is invaluable. Winning would make all these late nights in the library worth it and would be a very respected addition to my CV.”
