Matheson, in association with Trinity College Dublin (TCD), has announced second-year TCD Law and Political Science student Jude Pierse as winner of the Cara Scholarship.

Named in honour of late Matheson partner Cara O'Hagan, the annual scholarship is open to second-year undergraduate students in TCD, including students on the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) or the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) schemes, mature students, and students who face barriers in third-level education.

Jude has been awarded:

• A place on Matheson’s summer internship programme in June,
• €5,000 for each academic year, and
• Will be overseen by a Matheson mentor.

Managing partner Michael Jackson said: “We view D&I [diversity and inclusion] as a strategic necessity that fuels innovation, drives collaboration, and develops the best professionals to provide the best services to our clients, and we are proud to be able to support the next generation of legal talent.”

Deserved

Professor Caoimhín MacMaoláin (Head of Trinity School of Law) said that Jude was a most deserving recipient.

“Jude is an exceptional law student, and receiving the Matheson Cara Scholarship and the opportunities that this brings, will prove to be invaluable to his future career,” she said.

Jude responded, saying that he was delighted to receive the “life-changing” bursary and that he was grateful to Matheson for the opportunity.

“Coming from a non-legal family, it can be very intimidating to walk through the doors of a large law firm. It often seems like a place out of reach. However, thanks to Cara's lasting work and the shared commitment of everyone at Matheson, I feel welcomed and valued,” he said.