Ward Hadaway bursary awarded to top Northumbria Law students

Local law firm Ward Hadaway has helped two students with funding towards the second and third year of their LLB exempting degrees and also offered them the opportunity to spend time at the firm undertaking work experience.

Hollie Walker and Catherine Maclaine, both second-year students in the Law School, achieved high exam results in the first year of their course and impressed the firm’s partners at interview.

The awards mark the second anniversary a bursary scheme between Northumbria Law School and Ward Hadaway. They were presented to the students by Richard Butts, a partner in corporate finance at the firm.

The  bursaries are to be awarded annually to two students, who will also have the opportunity to participate in eight-weeks work experience in the firm’s Newcastle or Leeds offices.

Hollie, 20 from Teesside said: “I am honoured to receive the Ward Hadaway Bursary. It is a fantastic opportunity which I intend to make the most of. I am looking forward to learning more about the firm during the work experience."

Catherine, 19 from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, described the bursary as “fantastic.” She added: “The money is obviously tremendously helpful, as a Law degree can be quite expensive, but the four weeks annual work placement with the firm will provide me with invaluable experience needed to help me decide if Ward Hadaway is right for me and vice versa!.
Richard Butts, a partner in corporate finance at Ward Hadaway, said: “The bursaries are available to second-year students who are amongst the top performing students in their first-year exams. The work experience should be a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience of working for a large commercial law firm.”

Mr Butts, who studied the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University, added: “A significant proportion of our trainee solicitors have studied at Northumbria University. In particular, we see the benefits of recruiting graduates who have undertaken the LLB exempting degree, given its strong practical emphasis.

“As well as being academically strong, Hollie and Catherine both displayed confidence and good interpersonal skills during their interviews, which are key criteria for us in selecting graduates to undertake training contracts.”

Mick Woodley, Associate Dean at Northumbria University’s Law School, said: “These bursaries give the students exposure to working life in a solicitors practice. It’s an invaluable insight.”

“The winners of this bursary will have the added advantage of seeing what it’s like to be working in the pressurised environment of a large commercial practice.”

Ward Hadaway also offers an annual prize to Northumbria University Law students. Each year the Sue Watts Memorial Prize is presented to the student with the best performance in the Intellectual Property module of their LLB exempting degree.