Co Durham Law Student Wins National Award

14 April 2009 pr025.09

A Sacriston student studying law at Newcastle College has been chosen from more than one and three quarter million students to receive a prestigious City & Guilds Medal for Excellence for her studies.

Heather Coltman, studying for her Institute of Legal Executives Certificate in Vocational Paralegal Studies, is one of only 97 City & Guild students in Britain to achieve such an award, which recognises exceptional academic achievement.

Heather, who suffers from psoriatic arthritis in both hands, works for the Port of Tyne Authority as Legal Assistant to the Director of Legal Services. Her success was acknowledged at a glittering Oscars-style ceremony in London.

The City & Guilds Medals for Excellence programme rewards outstanding people. Only students whose dedication and talent enables them to produce work of an exceptional standard are eligible for the medals. This year, Heather was one of three students on ILEX courses who won medals for their legal studies.

Commenting on her win, Heather said “I am very proud to have been awarded this accolade. To say I am thrilled is an understatement. I did find it hard going at times, having a full time job and finding time for study and assignment work. However, this award has made it all worthwhile.”

“My congratulations to Heather,” said ILEX President, Mark Bishop. “This is a tremendous result for her. The City & Guilds Medals for Excellence recognises the very best students in the country. To have someone who is undertaking an ILEX course win one of these prestigious Medals is proof that the links we have forged with City & Guilds are paying dividends through the caliber of student

achieving their qualifications. This is also proof of the quality of the courses we run for legal secretaries, paralegal and support staff and of the ability those courses have to open doors leading to a career as a lawyer.”

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