Lancashire Law School wins highly commended prize at prestigious industry awards ceremony
The University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Law School is celebrating after winning a highly commended prize at a prestigious industry awards ceremony.
The School beat off stiff competition from a host of UK universities to receive the highly commended trophy for the Solicitors Journal Legal Education Provider of the Year.
Jane Anthony, Head of the Lancashire Law School, attended the black tie ceremony, in London, with academics from the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate law courses. She said: “I felt completely delighted, thrilled and incredibly proud when our name was read out. It was a great achievement to make the shortlist of five and so to receive the highly commended award is absolutely wonderful.
“What makes this even better is the external recognition it brings. The sector leading Solicitors Journal is the biggest journal for solicitors in the country so for the University to be winning an award on this professional platform is marvellous.”
She added: “We spend a lot of time asking how can we improve what we offer to our students but this is an award which says we’re doing a fabulous job. It’s just fantastic.”
The criteria for the awards were:
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Innovated in ‘real time’ and significantly diversified its selection of courses to meet the needs of students and legal businesses following substantial change to routes of entry into the profession;
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Founded excellent working relationships with legal businesses and enabled vital access to the profession for students;
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Championed and furthered social mobility/diversity efforts for aspiring lawyers;
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Facilitated industry-leading vocational-based projects, such as law centres, charities, or pro bono work, which have made improvements to local communities;
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Offered bespoke legal education services;
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Shown innovation with pricing of courses.
"I felt completely delighted, thrilled and incredibly proud when our name was read out."
The judging panel said: “A clear focus on alternative dispute resolution and mediation demonstrates the School’s understanding of changes within the profession and its gradual shift away from litigation. Its work trying to increase diversity and social mobility was highlighted by the judges, who also commended the launch of its pop-up advice shop and pro bono work programmes.”
The Solicitors Journal Awards are designed to highlight and celebrate solicitors, law firms, barristers, and other legal professionals who are making significant contributions to the legal services’ sector.
It was not the only recognition for the University’s Law School this year. It was recently shortlisted for the Attorney General Student Pro Bono Awards ‘Best Contribution by a Law School’ and Phoebe Dearden, a third year law student, scooped the Best Student Mediator prize at the International Mediation Competition.