Student from Beaconsfield named as a finalist in an annual law competition

Joseph Kelen. (Image supplied by National Accident Helpline)

A student from Beaconsfield has been named as a finalist in an annual law competition after beating competition from all over the United Kingdom.

Joseph Kelen, 26, who is studying Senior Status Law at the University of Cambridge and hopes to become a barrister, has been named on the shortlist for National Accident Helpline’s Future Legal Mind Award 2020.

The winner of the Future Legal Mind award, which is in its sixth year, will receive a £2,000 prize fund and be mentored by experienced lawyers. Previous winners of the competition have gone on to become barristers and solicitors.

Joseph said: ‘It was a really exciting surprise to be named on the shortlist, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to show my desire and determination to change public law for the better.

Given the times we are living in, there is a need, now more than ever, to highlight and support the plight of our society’s most vulnerable individuals.‘

For their competition essay, entrants were asked to write about the areas of the law which they wanted to see changed. In his essay, Joseph focused on vagrancy laws, arguing that they are ‘counter productive‘ and leave people with criminal records which give them ‘no choice but to be on the streets‘ as they are then unable to try to get a job or access housing benefit.

For the second round of the competition, shortlisted entrants were asked to record a video to support their essays. Joseph’s video is available to view at www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/future-legal-mind.

Tom Fitzgerald, Managing Director of National Accident Helpline, said: ‘Joseph made a compelling argument in his essay about his wish to see a shake up of the current laws on vagrancy, and it was thought provoking. We wish him the best of luck for the final.‘

The winner of the 2020 Future Legal Mind award will be named in May 2020.

*Source of article :Press release from the National Accident Helpline.