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Law society celebrates milestone anniversary with old friends

Friday 19 November 2010

Mark Stephens and Pat Berwick

Students and staff, past and present, from UEL’s School of Law gathered to celebrate its 35th anniversary in style this week, with a prestigious ceremony at the Law Society on Thursday evening.

Around 200 guests including lawyers, judges, and QC’s who all graduated from UEL, attended the function at the society’s Chancery Lane offices in central London.

Guest speakers included top human rights lawyer Mark Stephens – named among London’s 1,000 most influential people by the London Evening Standard this week – former UEL lecturer Judge Howard Levenson and renowned barrister Elpha LeCointe, who is one of only two black females to serve as a Deputy District Judge at the Principal Registry of the Family Division.

Also in attendance were Law school secretary Pat Berwick, who has worked at the University’s School of Law for all of its 35 years, and Ray Bohringer, the school’s first ever law graduate.

Dean of School, Fiona Fairweather said: “On such a special night it is wonderful to see so many old faces. UEL’s School of Law is tremendously proud to have helped launch so many successful careers, and we are also extremely proud of all of your fantastic achievements.

"While we celebrate the past we are also looking forward to an exciting future, in which the school will be housed in a new, very modern environment."

The School of Law is scheduled to be moved to a new campus in Stratford Island as part of a unique collaboration between the UEL and Birkbeck, University of East London, in 2013.

Mr Bohringer said:”It’s amazing to come back after all these years and still see a few familiar faces. It’s been a long time since graduating and I’ve gone on to other things, but my time at the School of Law will always be special.”

Mark Stephens, who is also Chair of UEL’s Board of Governors, said his experience at UEL was instrumental in launching his distinguished career. “Studying at UEL provided me with more than just an academic education. It was a unique environment, I’d venture to say more so than any other academic institution, in terms of its diversity, its ethos and its commitment to equality.

“Without doubt this provided me with a moral compass for social justice.”

Mr Stephens, a media expert who regularly appears on TV and radio as a legal expert also had a few words of appreciation for Pat, whose birthday coincided with the event.

“She was always there for us, always picking us up if we were feeling down and a willing shoulder in times of hardship.”

Pat herself said: “There have obviously been many changes but what never ceases to amaze me is the quality of the students who we manage to attract.

The UEL School of Law opened at the former North East London Polytechnic in 1975, before becoming the Polytechnic of East London and the University of East London.

Some 1,200 students are currently enrolled on of one of the schools under-graduate courses, while around 200 students are currently studying one of the schools post-graduate courses, including the country’s first MSc in Terrorism Studies.

The school is ranked in the top third for student support among all universities, is considered the second most successful School of Law of any ‘new’ university in the London, and is rated seventh among all London University equivalents.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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