Sarah McGee and Conor Cassidy win the Arthur Cox ‘Contribution to University Life’ Awards
Sarah McGee, (BCL) Law with Social Justice, and Conor Cassidy, (BBL) Business and Law, were recent recipients of the annual Arthur Cox ‘Contribution to University Life’ awards. The awards honour the contribution of Law students to university life and this can be in sporting activities, student societies, initiatives to improve the university community or the relationship between the university and the wider community.
The wide range of activities that Sarah McGee has undertaken alongside her studies are an excellent example of this commitment. For example, as co-editor of the Student Law Journal she was involved with changing the submission categories to make them more accessible and allow a broader range of subjects. This resulted in an increase in the number and diversity of submissions which included legal philosophy and feminist jurisprudence. She was also actively involved in the Student Legal Service and has acted as a judge at the UCD L&H Junior Schools Debating Competition. In addition to all of this, she has volunteered for charity fundraisers, has worked as a Student Ambassador and assisted at the Arthur Cox UCD Women in Leadership conference. Sarah has also found the time to be a member of the UCD Philharmonic Choir and has performed with them in the National Concert Hall.
Fellow winner, Conor Cassidy, also made an outstanding contribution to his fellow students, and to the wider community, since coming to UCD. His work as co-convenor of the Leinster Junior Schools Debating Competition on behalf of UCD Law Society is an excellent example of this commitment. In this role he actively sought to increase the diversity of voices at the event to encourage school students of all backgrounds to see that there is a pathway for them to university. During his time in UCD he was also secretary of the Student Legal Service, a Peer Mentor, UCD Badminton Club’s match secretary, an elected member of the Executive of the Athletic Union Council (UCD’s sporting body) and volunteered for a number of charity fundraising events.
Both outstanding students have demonstrated the kind of commitment consistent with the aims of this award from Arthur Cox Solicitors. These are to encourage students to avail fully of the opportunities that university offers them; to be innovators and catalysts for change; consistently to improve their community; increase their potential and contribute towards a sound society and a dynamic economy.