Two University of Galway Law students awarded RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships
Two University of Galway Law students, Mamadou Saliou Bah and Salma Smith were recently awarded RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships by JP Gilmartin, Partner-in-Charge of law firm RDJ's Galway office, Antoinette Vahey, Partner at RDJ, and Professor Martin Hogg, Dean of the University of Galway School of Law. This year marks the first year of the RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship at University of Galway which support students from ethnic minorities and those who are under-represented in the legal profession in Ireland.
Mamadou Saliou Bah and Salma Smith have each received a scholarship worth €5,000 and a work placement opportunity with RDJ.
The RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship at University of Galway supports students from ethnic minorities and those who are under-represented in the legal profession in Ireland. RDJ has donated €100,000 over ten years for the scholarships, which are awarded to two University of Galway Law students each academic year.
Mamadou and Salma were chosen as the scholarship recipients following a competitive selection and interview process based on exam results, a personal statement, a 1,000-word essay discussing the topic, “The Need for Diversifying the Legal Profession in Ireland”.
The students were officially awarded their scholarships at the University of Galway on Thursday, 16 January by JP Gilmartin, Partner-in-Charge of RDJ's Galway office, Antoinette Vahey, Partner at RDJ, and Professor Martin Hogg, Dean of the University of Galway School of Law.
Commending the RDJ Diversity Scholars on their achievement, JP Gilmartin, Partner-in-Charge of RDJ's Galway office, said:
“I am delighted to meet this year’s recipients of the RDJ Diversity Scholarship today. Mamadou and Salma are both outstanding students and I look forward to following what I have no doubt will be successful career paths for them both.”
Antoinette Vahey, Partner in RDJ’s Employment Group added,
“Greater diversity and inclusion are among RDJ’s core values. This scholarship is in keeping with our commitment to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we are part of.”
Acknowledging the importance of encouraging diversity in the legal profession, Professor Martin Hogg, Dean of the University of Galway School of Law, said:
“RDJ’s support in creating these two scholarships is sincerely appreciated by the School of Law. The two worthy inaugural recipients, Mamadou and Salma, will benefit greatly from them, receiving transformative support and encouragement to pursue legal careers in an increasingly diverse legal profession.”
University of Galway
Established in 1849, the School of Law at University of Galway delivers innovative legal education in a dynamic school dedicated to impactful, high quality legal research. With over 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, over 45 staff, a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and exciting clinical legal education opportunities the School emphasises student-focused, research-led teaching delivered in a supportive and intellectually challenging environment.
RDJ
RDJ is one of Ireland’s leading corporate law firms. With offices in Cork, Dublin and Galway, the firm provides cross-sectoral expertise to clients that include scaling and established Irish companies, multinationals, financial institutions and global insurance companies.