Students secure scholarships and work experience

Amelia Shaw and Paige Lewis will each receive scholarships from the firm to help with their studies. Alongside fellow students Felicity Nelson and Emily Ibberson, they will also undertake work experience at Ward Hadaway during the summer.

Student stars – (from left) Northumbria University Ward Hadaway scholarship recipients Amelia Shaw and Paige Lewis with Christine Fletcher, Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at Northumbria University; Ward Hadaway Partner and Head of Graduate Recruitment Nicola Richardson; Northumbria University Ward Hadaway work experience recipients Felicity Nelson and Emily Ibberson.

The four, who are all in their second year of studies on the MLaw Exempting degree at Northumbria Law School, were eligible for the scheme after finishing in the top 10% of their year in exams at the end of their first year.

They then sent off a written application and CV and underwent interviews by two Partners at Ward Hadaway before being selected for the scheme, which the firm operates with Northumbria University to support and encourage talented young lawyers.

Amelia and Paige will each undertake one month’s work experience at Ward Hadaway this summer with another month following next summer. They will also receive funding to help with their studies.

Amelia, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said: “I applied for the scheme because I thought it would be a really good opportunity and because of the wide range of sectors that Ward Hadaway operates in.

“It was also good practice to go through the application and interview process and I am looking forward to work experience at the firm.”

Paige, who is from Kendal, said: “Being able to do work experience at a large firm like Ward Hadaway is a great opportunity. I am hoping there will be a chance to work with the clinical negligence team at the firm and I am also interested in property law.”

Felicity Nelson, from Newcastle, and Emily Ibberson, from Huddersfield, will each spend a week at Ward Hadaway’s offices with Felicity doing work experience in the firm’s Newcastle office and Emily at Ward Hadaway’s Leeds office.

Felicity said: “I would love to work in a big commercial firm like Ward Hadaway and it will be really beneficial to get an insight into how the firm works.”

Emily added: “I have only been to high street firms before so gaining experience at a large firm will be very useful.”

Jamie Martin, managing partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “As a firm, we believe strongly in investing in identifying and nurturing the next generation of lawyers and this scheme is an ideal way to do just that.

“By working with Northumbria University, we hope to encourage talented young legal students to continue their good work and to give them a taste of what could await them once they have finished their degrees.

“We hope that Amelia, Paige, Felicity and Emily enjoy their time at Ward Hadaway and gain a valuable insight into how the law works in practice.”

Kevin Kerrigan, Executive Dean of Northumbria Law School, added: “As firm believers, and indeed pioneers, of practice-based learning, these scholarships and work placements are enormously valuable and career enhancing for our students.

“I’m sure they will all have an outstanding and rewarding experience, and that they will make a positive contribution to the firm while they are there. I’d also like to place on record my appreciation to Ward Hadaway for providing these opportunities.”