NATIONAL recognition brought to Cumbrian law student.

University of Cumbria student Elizabeth Park is one of only five students who has been awarded a prestigious Neuberger Prize.

The award was presented by The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, one of the four Inns of Court in London and a leading centre for the training and development of student and qualified barristers in the UK.

Elizabeth said: “I’m very honoured that the law programme leaders at University of Cumbria nominated me for this award. I visited Lincoln’s Inn during my first year as part of a university open afternoon and dinner that they were offering and I knew from that moment it was the Inn which I wanted to join, long before I knew about the Neuberger Prize.

“When I got the email saying that I’d won the award I just could not believe it, I had to read it several times to make sure.”

The prize is awarded in recognition of her outstanding work during her studies on the LLB (Hons) Law course at the university.

Universities must nominate students for the prize, which includes £1,000 and student membership of Lincoln's Inn.

She added: “The leaders of my law programme leaders have been phenomenally supportive, both academically and when needed on a more personal level. My personal tutor Fiona Boyle has been instrumental in helping me to keep focused and keep going when it’s been tough, understanding how difficult it is to manage studies and a family and home life.”

Her personal tutor Fiona is joint LLB programme leader at University of Cumbria.

Fiona said: “We are really delighted that Liz's hard work and potential as a member of the legal profession has been recognised in this way.

“It is so important that the Bar is representative of society more generally and this kind of help with funding is key to achieving that.”