Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Graduation prizes awarded to celebrate law students’ success
A total of 27 prizes were awarded to the students across the School, including undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Speaking about the importance of recognising student success through the awarding of prizes, Deveral Capps, Dean of the Leeds Law School at Leeds Beckett, said: “I am delighted with the success of our students this year and would like to congratulate everyone who has won such an accolade. I would like to thank all the law firms for their continued support and I wish all graduates every success in their future careers.”
Alexandra Coulton, who won the CPS Prize for the Best Dissertation, commented: “Winning the prize meant a lot because, when writing a dissertation, you put in so much of your time and effort into your research that it becomes a significant part of your student experience. Getting recognition for all your hard work makes the sleepless nights worthwhile.”
Speaking about the highlight of her time at Leeds Beckett, she added: “Graduation itself was probably the highlight of my time at university; seeing how far we've all come but still not feeling quite ready to be becoming grown-ups yet!”
Barbara Petchey, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “It was great to meet the students and in particular our award-winner Alexandra. It was wonderful to see so many happy and proud students together with their families and friends. A special day in which I was delighted to play a small part.”
Tessa Carr, who won the Blacks Solicitors Prize for Employment Law (LPC), which included a placement with the firm, said: “I was so surprised when I found out I'd won an award and it was wonderful to feel that my hard work had been recognised! My work experience at Blacks provided me with an invaluable insight into employment law in practice. I think the prize system is a credit to the Law School as it makes students feel valued.”
Euan Lawrence, Solicitor at Blacks Solicitors, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the Leeds Law School student prize-giving event. It was rewarding to be able to meet the prizewinners and celebrate their achievements with them. It was readily apparent how talented and conscientious these students had been over the course of the year and, as a sponsor of one of the prizes, it was gratifying to find out how well-deserved the prizes were.”
Steven Plummer, Senior Associate for Gateley Plc, commented: “It was great to see so many students and their families at the awards ceremony celebrating their academic achievements this year. I wish all of the students success in their future careers; and particularly look forward to welcoming prizewinner, Molly Ripley, to Gateley for a weeks’ work experience very soon.”
As well as celebrating the achievements of graduating students, Leeds Beckett also awards honorary degrees each year to inspiring people who have made a significant contribution to their field. This year, writer and independent advisor on humanitarian response to conflict and natural emergencies, Rae McGrath, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.
Rae, who was Mercy Corps Director responsible for programmes in North Syria and Turkey including migration response, has an enduring interest in all aspects of civil society advocacy, the effects of popular language on the rights of minorities and the impact of sustained bombardments on civilian populations, especially on youth.
His day-to-day work for more than 32 years has been the delivery of humanitarian aid to communities in frontline, bombarded and besieged areas and immediate natural disaster response.
The full list of Leeds Law School sponsors and prize-winners this year is:
Max Fagelman: The Dean’s Prize Awarded for the Best Overall Performance on LLM
Samantha Murkitt: The Dean’s Prize Awarded for the Best Independent Legal Research Project
Joshua Butterwick: The Harrison Bundey Prize for Criminal Litigation (LPC)
Tessa Carr: The Blacks Solicitors Prize for Employment Law (LPC)
Lucinda Dhesi: The Goodman Grant Prize for Commercial Law and Practice (LPC) and the Eversheds Sutherland LLP Prize for Private Acquisitions (LPC)
Jordan Davies: The Eversheds Sutherland LLP Prize for Commercial Dispute Resolution (LPC), the Capsticks Solicitors LLP Prize for Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence (LPC), and the Ison Harrison Prize for Civil Litigation (LPC)
Nikki Przewoznik: The Shulmans LLP Prize for Property Law & Practice (LPC)
Curtis Wray: The Consilia Legal Prize for Family Law (LPC)
Yazmin Elliot: The Dean's Prize Awarded for the Best Overall Performance on LLB
Megan Slaughter: The Dean's Prize Awarded for the Best Overall Performance on LLB
Hayley Blackburn: The Dean's Prize Awarded for the Best Overall Performance on LLB and the FL Solicitors Prize for LLB Civil Litigation CILEx Pathway LLB
Alexandra Leigh Coulton: The CPS Prize for the Best Dissertation
Stacey Cave: The Mincoffs Prize for The Best Company Law Student LLB
Grace Skinner: The Oxford University Publishing Prize for Family Extended Study
Rachel Lumsden: The Oxford University Publishing Prize for International Human Rights
Klien Gestre: The Oxford University Publishing Prize for International Trade Law
Joseph O'Connor: The Virtuoso Legal Prize for The Best Student for Intellectual Property Law
Molly Ripley: The Gately PLC Client Care CILEx Pathway Elective
Shona Robinson: The Morrish Solicitors Prize for The Best Employment Law Student
Grace Watson: The DLA Piper Prize for The Best Student for Media and Entertainment Law
Keeley Wilson: The Gordons LLP Prize for CILEx Pathway (Client Care Skills, Litigation, Conveyancing) LLB
Amelia Johnson: The Levi Solicitors LLP Prize for Conveyancing CILEx Pathway LLB
Alison Pharoah: The Clarion Prize for Business Law & Practice (LPC)
More information about Leeds Law School.