University of Ulster - Law Firm Launches Magee Student AwardWilma(2009/11/20 18:42:10) 点击:
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139.* * * A £1,000 prize is to be awarded each year to a top law student at the University of Ulster.
Arthur Cox, one of Ireland’s largest law firms, has strengthened its links with the University's solicitor training school at Magee by unveiling an annual £1,000 prize for the leading student at the Graduate School of Professional Legal Education.
Arthur Cox partner Ross Davidson and associate solicitor Megan Boyd announced details of the award at the campus in Londonderry where they met students and staff.
Paul Mageean, Director of the Graduate School of Professional Legal Education, said: “The Arthur Cox Prize in Professional Legal Education adds immeasurably to the School’s stature and cements links with the firm that have developed over the past year.
“We see it as a mark of confidence by an important international law firm in the School’s ability to provide high calibre hands-on training which the students will carry into their professional lives.”
Arthur Cox practitioners provided a number of lectures on specialist subjects in the inaugural year and will do so again this year.
Alan Taylor, Managing Partner of Arthur Cox, said: “It is important for us to invest in the training and development of the future leaders of business and it is a delight to be able to do this with the University of Ulster.”
The company has offices in Belfast, Dublin, London and New York. It represents multi-national companies, financial institutions, publicly listed companies and many Fortune 500 corporations which have established businesses in Ireland.
The School was officially opened last year by the then Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland, Sir Brian Kerr.
Its launch marked a major development in professional legal education as it is the sole such provider in the North-West and only the second in Northern Ireland.
The School provides full-time training in a wide variety of legal and procedural skills to law graduates who are apprentices in solicitors’ practices.
It has received strong support from the judiciary, law firms and agencies such as the PSNI and the Court Service, which have hosted study visits.
The trip to Derry was an opportunity for the Arthur Cox lawyers to meet up with their colleague Cahal Carvill, a student at the School. Cahal, who is a County Armagh GAA footballer and hurler, is a trainee solicitor with Arthur Cox in Belfast. He is in his second and final year of studies for a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.
In addition to the inaugural year’s 28 students, the School’s intake for the current academic year is 21. “That figure is quite an achievement given the economic climate and stringencies that are affecting law firms, especially in the area of conveyancing,” Paul Mageean said. “It is certainly evidence of law firms’ confidence in the School.”
He added: “Just as motivation is vital in sport, it is pivotal also in the challenging world of legal studies. The Arthur Cox prize provides a new target for students to aim at, an accolade that carries a quality mark of excellence.”