Second University of Edinburgh student shortlisted for national legal award

A University of Edinburgh student is a finalist in Future Legal Mind, National Accident Helpline’s award to find the brightest young legal talent in the country. April Sloan, who is currently studying for a Graduate LLB course at the University of Edinburgh, is in with a chance to win a £5,000 prize, plus a coveted work experience placement at a top law firm.

The 27-year old student, originally from Falkirk, graduated from University of Glasgow Dental School in 2013 and has been working as an NHS dental practitioner in Fife and Edinburgh for the past 5 years. Through her work, April realised that she wanted to move into a legal career with the aim of someday working in dental clinical negligence.

April has been shortlisted by a panel of industry experts alongside seven other students, and is overjoyed to be nominated for the top prize. April said: “I am both surprised and delighted as I did not expect to be shortlisted as I am at a reasonably early stage of my legal career.

“I would also like to win as it would give me an edge in a very competitive area and the work experience would be invaluable. This competition allowed me to research an area of law I am particularly interested in, and I hope would show to potential future employers my commitment and seriousness over this area of law”.

To be in with a chance of taking the top spot for the prize, April was tasked with writing an essay on the following topic:

The personal injury legal sector is frequently attacked by government, insurers and media as ambulance-chasing lawyers seeking to promote a compensation culture.  What can organisations in the personal injury legal sector do differently in order to dispel the misconceptions and bring integrity back to claiming compensation?

National Accident Helpline’s Managing Director, Simon Trott, who chaired the panel of judges said: “The Future Legal Mind award is designed to find the best up and coming legal talent in the country, and our shortlist this year certainly proves that. All entrants, including April, have set the bar really high in terms of the standard of submissions that we received.

“With that in mind, all of the shortlisted students should feel immensely proud of this achievement, and I wish them the best moving forward in the competition.”

The winner will be announced on 23rd April here: https://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/future-legal-mind

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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer