Legal eagles donate degree prizes

Andrew Scott and Ian Pennock both graduated from the University of Teesside with law degrees. They are now practising barristers in the same chambers in Leeds and have sponsored an award in their own names to encourage and support future Teesside law graduates.

Their prizes were awarded for the first time this year. The winners were Rachel Lavender who won the Andrew Scott Prize for Criminal Law and Rachael Dodsworth who won the Ian Pennock Prize for Excellent Achievement in the Law of Evidence.

Rachel Lavender, 24, from Darlington, is now studying the Legal Practice Course to become a fully qualified solicitor. She said: “I was really pleased to have won the prize from Andrew – it makes the graduation even more special. I was always interested in the law, but for some reason I was about to start a languages degree when I was 18. I changed my mind when my daughter Lucy was born and I’m really glad that I did!

“I studied part-time until my daughter Lucy began school and I went full-time for the last year. It was hard work, but Lucy made me realise what I was working for.”

Rachael Dodsworth, 33, from Middlesbrough, is employed as a Case Progression Manager at Middlesbrough Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). She said: “I’m delighted to have won the evidence prize as it’s the area I want to specialise in and I’m grateful to Ian Pennock for sponsoring it. I’ve got nothing but the highest regard for the Teesside lecturers. They were all very understanding, especially with students who have children, and they encouraged the best in you all the time.

“Law was the only subject I wanted to do. Ever since school I knew it was the area I wanted to study and learn more about. I did the first year of a law degree at another university, but it wasn’t the right time for me. I was too young and wanted to start working.

“I joined the CPS as an administrative caseworker and eventually began the law degree part-time. I had a lot of help and support from the CPS – they provided me a scholarship and were right behind me the whole way. I am now working as a Case Progression Manager – a new position which I’m the first person to hold. I’m also studying on the Legal Practice Course to become a fully qualified solicitor. I wanted to get the degree to prove to myself that I could do it and I’m thrilled that it’s happened.”

Rachael is married with a five year-old son, Zachary.

Andrew Scott, 36, from Loftus, also attended the graduation to see the prizes being awarded. Ian Pennock, 43, from Hartlepool, was unfortunately busy in court and unable to attend. Both work as barristers from 37 Park Square, Leeds.

Andrew said: “Ian and myself are very pleased to sponsor a prize for the next Teesside law students and we’ll keep on doing it. We’ll help the Teesside law department in any way we can because the University of Teesside gave us opportunities we never had earlier in life. We both came here as a mature students, I was a nurse and Ian was a newsagent. It’s changed both our working lives and our home lives. We couldn’t have got where we are today with out the University of Teesside.”

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