OU announces Law Students of the Year 2016

Cate Turner and Karie Matthews were presented with their awards for being the highest achieving students of 2016 by leading EU judge, Sir Nicholas Forwood QC, and Head of The Open University Law School, Paul Catley.

The event, hosted recently at Church House Conference Centre, Westminster, provided alumni, students, and their guests the opportunity to hear from Sir Nicholas about his career, sharing his insights on Brexit and challenges in EU competition law.

The Open University Law School (OULS) offers students the chance to learn flexibly – fitting their studies on a range of modules and qualifications around their lives.

"It gives me credibility"

54-year-old Cate from Holt in Norfolk achieved a Distinction for her Master of Laws (LLM) from the OULS.

As someone who works full time and is a parent of two teenage boys, the OU really helps to make study possible. It is not an easy ride, but it stimulates thinking and has given me a much greater understanding of the law in context.

I now have my own business providing HR support to other organisations; having the LLM not only gives me credibility, but I also have the confidence to tackle legal issues that I might previously have backed away from.

Cate Turner
OULS alumna

Putting knowledge into practice

42-year-old Karie from Faversham in Kent achieved a First Class (Hons) Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the OULS.

I chose the OU as its flexible programme allowed me to study whilst bringing up my children. Since graduating, I have achieved the Graduate Fast-Track Diploma from CILEx, with distinctions, from the Law Training Centre in Canterbury. This gives me the opportunity to do legal executive work in the future.

I am starting a Master of Laws (LLM) in Employment Law in September 2017, as this area fascinates me. I intend to volunteer at the Citizens Advice, to train as an advisor, and be able to put my knowledge into practice in a meaningful way.

Karie Matthews
OULS alumna

Making better citizens

Reflecting on the evening and the OULS, Sir Nicholas, said:

Study of the law, and of how laws are made and applied, makes us not only good lawyers, but also better citizens. Many students from The Open University Law School already come to their studies with a fuller, wider experience of life than conventional students. That experience is not only valuable in their legal studies, but also enables them to thrive as they later continue their careers, whether as a law professional, or in commerce or civil society.

I would like to congratulate both Cate and Karie on their fantastic achievements.