MP uses libel settlement to establish new law award with university

Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson is using a newspaper libel settlement to establish a new law award for state-school students with the University of Derby.

Catherine is using the Mail on Sunday libel payout to support state-school students pursue careers in law, after the newspaper falsely accused her of concealing her education.

It claimed she had omitted that she had attended private-school education, when she had actually attended state school.

The MP is donating the entire remaining sum from the settlement after recovering her out-of-pocket expenses.

At least £5,000 will go towards the Catherine Atkinson Future Lawyers Award, which she is establishing with the university.

Her donation will provide one £500 award each year for at least 10 years.

The award will be open to first-year law students at the university who were educated at a state school within Derby city.

Catherine, who was state-educated and worked as a barrister for 17 years before entering Parliament, wants the award to help more students from her constituency see a future for themselves in the legal profession.

She said: “I am grateful for the state-school education that helped me build a 17-year career as a barrister.

“The claim that I had concealed a private education from my constituents was false. I am using the money from this settlement to support students from Derby’s state schools in beginning their own careers in law.

“Strengthening our justice system means taking seriously who gets the opportunity to work in it. When financial barriers keep capable people out of the profession, the public loses the benefit of their talent

“The legal profession has a shared responsibility to help remove those barriers. We should be looking for future lawyers in every school and supporting those who need help to get started.

“There are students in Derby today who could spend their careers defending the rights of others. They deserve the opportunity to build that future.”

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor and chief executive of the University of Derby, said: “At the University of Derby we firmly believe in the transformative nature of education and, as a champion of social mobility and inclusion, aim to create opportunities for all across our region and beyond, regardless of age, background or location.

“We want talented students from Derby’s state comprehensive schools to have every opportunity to pursue a career in law.

“The Catherine Atkinson Future Lawyers Award will provide financial support as recipients begin their degrees. We welcome Catherine’s commitment to social mobility and her investment in local students over the next 10 years.”