Leo Blair Prize for Advocacy won by student Hoda Hashem
Durham Law School is delighted to announce that Hoda Hashem has won the Leo Blair Prize for Advocacy. The Prize recognises outstanding student achievement in advocacy. Sponsored by our alumni the Prize is worth £500.
This year's competition was incredibly high with multi-award winners and more in the running. Hoda's record stood out. After being commended in the 2016/17 Novice Cup as runner-up to the final round, she excelled achieving a first in her Legal Skills moot and earning the joint highest mark in the Inter-University Moot at Northumbria University. In 2018, she won Best Oral Advocate by Mr Justice Goss and Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, both High Court judges, at a moot held in the Supreme Court.
Hoda has excelled across a range of related extracurricular activities. These include serving as the Director of Durham's Access to Justice Group and being an advisor to Shelter Cymru. She has amassed an impressive array of mini-pupillages, including at Kings Chambers, Landmark Chambers, 5 Essex Court and Apex Chambers. Most recently, she won the Blackstone Entrance Exhibition and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarship from the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
The Prize is named for the late Leo Blair, who taught criminal law at Durham and was a major influence in supporting our students becoming barristers. His sons Sir William Blair and former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Tony Blair attended the launch of the inaugural prize held at Ropes & Gray's London offices last June. There will be a formal presentation of the Prize at our next alumni event.
On behalf of the Durham Law School community, our warmest congratulations to Hoda Hashem for winning this Prize.
Alumni interested in making a contribution to the continuation of the Leo Blair Prize for Advocacy should contact Dr Claire Molloy.