University of Surrey law student wins national legal award

LLB Law with International Relations student, Gbemisola Obolo, has been selected as the winner in the National Accident Helpline’s Future Legal Mind Awards. 

The Future Legal Mind Awards aim to recognise the hard work and commitment of law students, and to identify the next generation of talented legal professionals. Gbemisola will receive a £5,000 prize and a coveted work experience placement at a top law firm.

Gbemisola, who is originally from Harlow in West Essex, triumphed over seven other shortlisted candidates who were judged by a panel of industry experts. Gbemisola commented: “I feel encouraged and more confident in myself. I am grateful that my hard work and the skills that I have cultivated have been recognised.

“The amazing opportunity to have a work experience placement with a high-quality law firm is an honour and will allow to me to develop my understanding of the practical work that takes place in a legal environment.”

As her final task in the competition, Gbemisola wrote 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: “Gbemisola’s essay demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the personal injury sector, and the myth that claims management companies are ambulance chasing lawyers seeking to promote a compensation culture.

We at National Accident Helpline thoroughly congratulate Gbemisola on a well deserved win, and wish her the best in her career aided by Future Legal Mind.”