Bethany Hargreaves shortlisted for Future Legal Mind Award

A University of Manchester student finalist in Future Legal Mind, National Accident Helpline's award to find the brightest young legal talent in the country.

Bethany Hargreaves is studying Law LLB at the University of Manchester and is in with a chance to win a £5,000 prize, plus a coveted work experience placement at a top law firm. 

The 20-year old, who is originally from Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, volunteers in between her studies; both at a local visually impaired group and at an RSPCA shop as a sales assistant. She is also a keen runner, having recently completed a 12-mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces. 

Bethany has been shortlisted by a panel of industry experts alongside seven other students, and says she is overjoyed to be nominated for the top prize: "I am delighted to have been shortlisted. It is a great feeling to have my work recognised. This has been an amazing experience.

"Winning Future Legal Mind would truly be life-changing. For me, winning the prestigious award would mark the start of a successful legal career. Being crowned Future Legal Mind 2018 would be a great honour. My hard work has allowed me to dream big."

To be in with a chance of taking the top spot for the prize, Bethany 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 Bethany, 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 Monday, 23 April on the National Accident Helpline website.