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At the University’s prestigious graduation and award ceremony, Steven Hudson, senior partner at Gard & Co. said, “When we began sponsoring the prize for Best Law Graduate we did so with the intention of fostering and encouraging the lawyers of the future.  We were particularly interested in promoting skills beyond the academics, such as communication, which are vital in everyday contact with clients.  Therefore the prize is awarded to the graduate with the best all round ability with the finest skills for practice.”

This year’s recipient is Jessica (Jess) Maidment, pictured with Steven Hudson and Gary Whitaker, partner at Gard & Co.  Jess graduated with a well-deserved First class honours degree. She also served as an outstanding President of the Law and Criminal Justice Society for 2010-11, ensuring that the Society had one if its most successful years in some time.

On receiving the award Jess said, “After finishing A-levels I travelled for 3 years and did 3 ski seasons.  Then I came to Plymouth to study the LLB and loved it. I really enjoyed the course and the extracurricular events run by the student Law and Criminal Justice Society.  I really enjoyed getting involved with the Society as both the Careers Officer during my second year and as the President in my final year.  I am currently studying the LPC at the College of Law in Bristol and I start my training contract in 2013.”

Gard & Co are always keen to encourage relationships with the University who are a major part of our local economic community.

In recognising this commitment Professor Peter Shears said, “It is a pleasure to acknowledge the support of Gard & Co for the Law Programme at the University of Plymouth. They were the first local firm to recognise the importance and quality of our provision, more than twenty years ago. Now nationally recognised, we remain locally orientated, taking pride in the fact that Gards still present the annual award for ‘The Best Law Graduate’.”