A TRAINEE barrister from Queen’s has beaten off top competition to win a global mediation competition in Chicago.
Aidan Hughes, from Portstewart, is completing his barrister training at Queen’s University’s Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS), and claimed first prize at the International Law School Mediation Tournament. He competed against 156 trainee lawyers from around the world to win the Outstanding Individual Mediator Award. The tournament is organised by the International Academy of Dispute Resolution and was attended by 52 teams from as far afield as the USA, Australia, Sri Lanka and Germany.
Aidan is a graduate of Queen’s School of Law, former vice-president of Queen’s Students’ Union and is currently completing the one-year Bar course at the institute, which provides internationally recognised training for barristers and solicitors.
He said: “The competition was fierce in that there were a number of prestigious law schools represented from all over the world. Queen’s is known for the international opportunities it offers its students and this was a great experience for me, which was made possible through the support of Barbara Jemphrey and the IPLS.
“It was a valuable learning experience and a great opportunity to meet students from as far away as India, Australia and Ukraine, as well as getting to experience the busy Chicago lifestyle. Mediation is definitely a skill of the future, in that more people are looking for alternative forms to court. I am very lucky to be able to say that I have been ranked among the best mediators in the world.”
Aidan was one of a team of three students from the institute who took part in the tournament at Loyola University, Chicago, along with Bobbie-Leigh Herdman from Belfast, and Conleth Rooney from Holywood. The Queen’s trio claimed 10th place in the team competition. Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen’s, Paul Mageean, said: “Aidan, Bobbie- Leigh and Conleth have excelled on the global stage and their success has helped put Queen’s and Northern Ireland on the world map in terms of professional legal training.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has visited apprentices working on the restoration project at the National Trust’s Mount Stewart House in Newtownards.
Callum McCaffrey and James Harper are studying for an NVQ in Carpentry and Joinery at South East Regional College’s (SERC) Newtownards Campus. As part of their apprenticeship they are learning specialist conservation joinery skills and working on a range of projects, including restoration of the historic house, which will involve conservation work to the listed building.
SERC director of economic and corporate development, Thompson Keating, said: “Apprenticeships are a real alternative for ambitious young people who want to earn while working towards recognised qualifications and a rewarding career. SERC apprenticeship programmes give students the opportunity to develop their skills and put theory into practice.”