NI: In full: Institute of Professional Legal Studies 2020 prizewinners

NI: In full: Institute of Professional Legal Studies 2020 prizewinners

We are pleased to publish a complete list of trainee solicitors and barristers who won recognition this year for their work at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) at Queen’s University Belfast.


The Thomasena McKinney Prize
This prize is awarded by the Law Society of Northern Ireland in honour of the late Thomasena McKinney who was a past president of the Law Society. The prize is awarded to the top solicitor trainee in the year.
Recipient: Daniel McCracken

Belfast Solicitors Association Prizes
These prizes were established in 2007 by the Belfast Solicitors Association. These prizes are awarded to the three solicitor trainees who attain the highest average marks in the Diploma in Professional Legal Studies examinations.
1st prize: Daniel McCracken
2nd prize: Hollie Lynch
3rd prize: Caroline Price

The Eoin Higgins Prize
This prize is awarded by the Bar of Northern Ireland in honour of the late Sir Eoin Higgins, a former Lord Justice of Appeal. The prize is awarded to the top barrister trainee in the year.
Recipient: Victoria Loane

The Cleaver Fulton Rankin Prize
This prize was established by Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors for the trainee who attains the highest standard in the wills element of the private client module.
Recipients: Caroline Price and Hollie Lynch

The Directorate of Legal Services Prize for Family Law
This prize was established by the Directorate of Legal Services in 2009. It is awarded to the trainee who attains the highest standard in the family law module.
Recipient: Caroline McAlister

The Elliott Duffy Garrett Prize for Company Law
This prize was established by Elliott Duffy Garrett Solicitors for the trainee who attains the highest standard in the company law element of the business module.
Recipient: Alexandra King

The Fox Prize Fund
This prize was established by the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland in honour of the late Judge Bernard Joshua Fox, Recorder of Belfast in the 1950s. It is awarded to the barrister trainee who achieves the highest standard in the negotiation element of the bar skills module.
Recipient: Jamie Matthews

The Harry Coll Prize for Tribunals
This prize was established in 2005 by Elliott Duffy Garrett Solicitors and is now presented in memory of Harry Coll, Solicitor for the trainee who attains the highest standard in the Tribunals element of the Public Law and Tribunals module.
Recipient: Rebecca Laverty and Hollie Lynch

HarteCoyleCollins Prize for PACE
This prize was established in 2004 by HarteCoyleCollins. It is awarded to the trainee who attains the highest standard in the PACE element of the criminal litigation module.
Recipient: Hollie Lynch

The DAC Beachcroft Prize for Advocacy in memory of Owen Catchpole
This prize was established in 2000 by McKinty & Wright Solicitors, now DAC Beachcroft, in memory of solicitor Owen Catchpole. It is awarded to the solicitor trainee who attains the highest standard in the advocacy course.
Recipient: Hannah Bulmer

The Martin McBirney Memorial Prize
This prize was endowed by the Northern Ireland Resident Magistrates’ Association in memory of the late Martin McBirney RM. It is awarded to the trainee who achieves the highest standard in the summary element of the criminal litigation module.
Recipient: Hollie Lynch

The Megaw Gift Fund Prize
This prize was established by the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland in honour of Lord Justice Megaw, a former Lord Justice of Appeal in England who is the son of the former Mr Justice Megaw. It is awarded to the barrister trainee who achieves the highest standard in the advocacy module.
Recipient: Matthew Yardley

The Mills Selig Prize for Chancery Practice
This prize was established in 2009 by Mills Selig Solicitors. It is awarded to the trainee who attains the highest standard in the chancery element of the civil litigation module.
Recipient: William Muir

The Pinsent Masons Prize
This prize was established by L’Estrange & Brett Solicitors, now Pinsent Masons, for the trainee who attains the highest standard in the solicitor exit examination.
Recipient: Daniel McCracken

The Tughans Prize in Litigation
This prize was established by Tughans Solicitors and is awarded to the trainee who attains the highest standard in the High Court element of the civil litigation module.
Recipient: Daniel McCracken

The Tughans Prize in Conveyancing
This prize was established by Tughans Solicitors and is awarded to the trainee who attains the highest standard in the property law & practice part 2 examination.
Recipient: Cormac McGirr

The Williamson Trust Fund Prize
This prize was established by the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland in memory of the late James Williamson of the North Eastern Circuit. It is awarded to the barrister trainee who attains the highest standard in the exit examination.
Recipient: Keane Davison

The Judge Corinne Philpott QC Memorial Prize
This prize was established in 2017 in memory of Judge Corinne Philpott QC. It is awarded to the barrister and solicitor trainee who each attain the highest standard in the criminal litigation module.
Recipients: Victoria Loane (barrister) and Hollie Lynch (solicitor)

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