Two students from the Glasgow Graduate School of Law, run jointly by the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, have won a remarkable victory in the International Client Counselling Competition, held this April at Stetson University, St Petersburg, Florida.

Kathleen Carlin and Eddie McAvinchey carried off first prize against fierce opposition from 12 international teams in this legal competition which was established in the United States over 30 years ago. Kathleen and Eddie each received prize money of $250 and scholarships worth $11,500 to study at Stetson University. The team also received a shield which will be located in the Graduate Law School for one year.

The competition, which is judged by seven international judges (three from the USA, one each from Malaysia, England, Hong Kong and Canada), focuses on the practical skills required by students once they enter a law office. In particular, it helps to develop students' awareness of the counselling and interview features of legal practice. Competing teams are given a brief note of a client's problem so that they can prepare to interview the client who is played by an actor. The topic for this year's final competition was environmental law.

The team was tutored by Michael Graham of MacRoberts Solicitors, who is also a part-time lecturer and senior tutor at the Glasgow Graduate School of Law and Scottish Chair of the International Client Counselling Committee. He commented: "The competition was as tough as any I have experienced. Each year the standard gets higher and higher as the problem scenarios become more realistic and complex. The US, for example, chooses their contestants from an internal competition involving over 120 teams - worldwide over 750 teams compete in the run-up heats. It was a tremendous victory for the Scottish team. Both Eddie and Kathleen were a credit not only to their School but to their jurisdiction."

Team member Eddie McAvinchey commented: "Much of what we put into practice in the competition was learned on the Diploma, and it is evidence of just how well this course prepares us as prospective lawyers, on leaving the theory of the classroom for the practice and rigours of the profession."

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Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

• For further information contact:
• Michael Graham, Director of Business Law, MacRoberts Solicitors, Tel: 0141 332 9988 (mobile 07909532063)
• Margaret Robertson, Press Office, Strathclyde University, Tel: 014 548 2772
• The Glasgow Graduate School of Law is a joint graduate school of the Law Schools of Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities. In its third year of existence, the School?s Diploma in Legal Practice has already earned a reputation for its strong focus on practical legal skills and Information and Communication Technology.
• Scotland joined the competition in 1991. In 1992 a Scottish team from Glasgow University won the International in Portland, Oregon.
• The countries taking part in 2002 were: Jamaica, England, Canada, Hong Kong, Cayman Islands, South Africa. Scotland, New Zealand, USA, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Australia.

First published: 24 April 2002