Cumbria law student wins prestigious dissertation prize

A law student is celebrating success after winning a prestigious award.  

Adam Khan from Carlisle has just graduated from the University of Cumbria. He leaves with the Bendles’ Dissertation Award, given annually by the university to the law student with the highest-marked dissertation module.  

Adam, 25, received the award at the Carlisle headquarters of its sponsor – Cumbrian solicitors Bendles – where he was presented with £500.  

Adam said: “It feels amazing to receive the award and I’m genuinely honoured. Writing the dissertation was an intensive process, with the majority of it taking about three months. Winning this award makes all the hard work worthwhile.” 

Hannah Smith, Partner and Training Principal at Bendles, said: “We’re delighted to congratulate Adam on winning this year’s dissertation prize. We value our longstanding relationship with the University of Cumbria and are proud to support the next generation of legal professionals.” 

Adam's 11,000-word dissertation focused on consent in medical law, and concluded that patients should have greater autonomy when making decisions about surgeries and procedures.  

Adam will soon embark on a one-year Masters course at BPP University in Manchester. If he passes, he will begin a medical negligence-specific training contract with a law firm in Newcastle.  

Bendles’ support for the University of Cumbria includes providing guest lectures and summer placements for students, as well as attending university open days.  

In May, Hannah was a keynote speaker at the university’s annual law conference, sharing professional insight with students from across the LLB (Hons) programme.  

Adam said: “Bendles have been great. Their support of the dissertation prize, along with their wider partnership with the university, helps create opportunities for students to develop their skills and prepare for their future careers.” 

Adam is keen to thank the University of Cumbria’s Law department staff for their support, particularly his dissertation supervisor Fiona Buchanan, and Dan Ritchie, “for constantly encouraging me to push myself even in the presence of self doubt.”  

Law senior lecturer Dan said: "We all offer our warmest congratulations to Adam. We are proud of his achievements to date, he worked diligently throughout his degree and was dedicated to his studies, as well to his role in the Student Law Society. 

"He has been a credit to the University of Cumbria and we look forward to following him as his career progresses. 

"Our partnership with Bendles helps us drive forward our mission to transform lives and livelihoods, being a university for and from Cumbria that equips students and graduates with skills and knowledge that enable our communities to thrive.”

Established as a family firm more than 200 years ago, Bendles provides personal and business legal services for clients across Cumbria, with offices in Carlisle, Wigton and Whitehaven. In April, Bendles merged with local law firm Gaynham King & Mellor, which has offices in Penrith, Appleby and Kirkby Stephen. The firm has also acquired Cumbrian law firm Atkinson Ritson.