A MATURE student from Beeny has beaten off strong competition to be named as a finalist in a leading law competition.

Angela Pober, 55, triumphed against law students and legal trainees nationwide to become one of 10 finalists for National Accident Helpline’s Future Legal Mind Award 2021.

The competition, which is open to law students and legal trainees, is now in its seventh year and has seen past winners go on to become barristers and solicitors.

A non-law graduate, after moving from London to Cornwall, Angela made the transition into legal study in 2020 when she started studying online with the University of Law for a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

As an aspiring barrister and someone who is keen to be able to provide the farming community with better access to legal advice, in her essay she argued that the tribunal system requires urgent reform.

She said that the ‘user journey’ and processes supporting the litigant in person are ‘illogically out of sequence’ and that the ‘content’ required by the tribunal system needs to be reviewed and ‘cut in different ways’ to save time and effort. 

Commenting on her shortlisting, Angela said: “Being named on the Future Legal Mind 2021 shortlist made me feel elated.

“It’s all the more special because what I’d written came straight from the heart and appears to have struck a chord with the judging panel, who I hope share my feeling that those who feed the nation deserve good, accessible legal representation.”

Each of the Future Legal Mind finalists has recorded a video explaining why they should be named the winner.

Will Hertbertson, marketing and strategy director of NAHL group, said: “Describing herself as a ‘wannabe agricultural barrister’, it’s clear to see how passionately Angela feels about improving farmers’ access to the law. We wish her the best of luck for the final.”

Further information on all of this year’s finalists visit www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/news/future-legal-mind/future-legal-mind-2021

The winner of Future Legal Mind 2021, who will receive a £2,000 prize fund and mentoring with experienced lawyers, will be announced on National Accident Helpline’s website in May.