Some of the South East’s best legal students have received a leg-up in the next stage of their careers or studies thanks to Pakenham law firm Duffy and Simon Lawyers.
For the ninth year running, the law firm has awarded students for their performance in VCE Legal Studies with an award, with each awardee receiving a $200 EFTPOS voucher and a plaque.
This year’s recipients were Achila Perera (Berwick Grammar), Asmi Gupta (St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar), Ava Markel (Haileybury), Caleb Lynn (Pakenham Secondary College), Ding Dieng (Lakeside College), Jonathan Zaitsev (Casey Grammar School), Kai Holyoak-Sparrow (Koo Wee Rup Secondary College), Lucky Kushi (Nossal High School), Mandy Susanj (St Francis Xavier College), Miller Reed (Berwick College), Rebecca Scott (Hillcrest Christian College) and Scarlett Di Teodoro (Beaconhills College).
Principal lawyer Damien McKenna said previous recipients had gone on to work with the firm, including Sam Mascadri and Kira Hardiker, who are currently working as trainee lawyers and are set to become full-time lawyers within a few months, and former employees Isaac Thomas and Rhiannon Bethune.
“It’s a great pleasure for us to reward some budding students,” he said.
“We see it as a great opportunity.
“It’s a really gratifying process for us.”
Mr McKenna said he hoped the award recipients would keep their options open.
“There are different pathways to get into law,” he said.
