Future Legal Mind 2021 finalists revealed

National Accident Helpline has announced 10 aspiring lawyers as finalists in its annual award scheme, Future Legal Mind Award 2021.

Now in its seventh year, Future Legal Mind is a UK essay competition intended to “find the shining legal stars of tomorrow”. Open to students, apprentices and trainees, the competition offers a £2,000 prize fund and mentoring with experienced lawyers to winners.

The 2021 Future Legal Mind finalists are:

• Angela Pober who is studying a Graduate Diploma in Law online at The University of Law;

• Bevan Mariadas, a Bar Practice Course student at The Inns of Court College of Advocacy in London;

• Calvin Williams, a trainee patent attorney at law firm Withers & Rogers in London;

• Edeh Gharibi, a second-year law student at Cardiff University;

• Elena Michael, a Bar Practice Course student at BPP University in London;

• Gabrielle Butler, a first-year law student at the University of Cambridge;

• Keely Wright, a third-year law student at the University of Greenwich;

• Lou Lou Curry, studying the LLM Legal Practice course at BPP University in London;

• Nnemdi Ozoemena, a second-year law student at the University of Durham; and

• Shakira Schofield, a second-year law with criminology student at the University of Salford.

As part of the final round of judging, the candidates were asked to submit a short video to explain why they felt they deserved to be this year’s winner. The judges will consider the video entries alongside the essays, before announcing the winner on National Accident Helpline’s website in May.

Will Herbertson, marketing strategy director of NAHL Group, said: “A record number of entries were received this year from entrants nationwide, many of which set the bar high, leaving us with a tough challenge of selecting who to take through to the final.

“In examining our current laws and providing ideas for reforming the law, each finalist demonstrated a wealth of insight and enthusiasm, with topics including agricultural law, laws on psychiatric injury to secondary victims and wrongful convictions, amongst the mix. We wish them all the very best of luck for the final.”

Last year’s Future Legal Mind Award was won by University of Cambridge law student Joseph Kelen. Other previous winners have gone on to become barristers and solicitors.