The University of Roehampton Law School is delighted to announce a new partnership with Lester Aldridge, which will see the introduction of the Lester Aldridge Family Law Prize for the highest-achieving student in the third-year Family Law cohort.
The award marks the first collaboration of its kind between the Law School and the firm and reflects a shared commitment to recognising academic excellence while creating meaningful pathways into professional legal practice.
As part of the prize, the successful student will undertake work experience with the Family Law team at Lester Aldridge, working closely with Estella Newbold-Brown, Partner and Head of Family at the firm. Estella is widely recognised for her expertise in complex financial matters, children disputes, and international family law cases. She is also widely recognised for her work in alternative dispute resolution, LGBTQ+ family law matters, and emerging areas such as disputes involving family pets.
The inaugural recipient of the Lester Aldridge Family Law Prize is Dahab Souiki, whose outstanding performance in Family Law earned her the distinction of becoming the first student to receive the award.
Dahab has distinguished herself as an outstanding all-round student, achieving a First in Family Law and demonstrating a strong and sustained interest in the subject throughout her studies. Building on her academic success in the module, she has also chosen a Family Law topic for her dissertation, further reflecting her commitment to the field and her aspiration to pursue practical experience in this area of law.
She has also been recognised by staff for her professionalism, discipline, and respectful approach to her studies, qualities which make her an excellent ambassador for the University of Roehampton Law School and this new partnership with Lester Aldridge.
Estella Newbold-Brown, Partner and Head of Family at Lester Aldridge
“We are delighted to partner with the University of Roehampton Law School to support and recognise outstanding student achievement in Family Law. At Lester Aldridge, we are passionate about nurturing future legal talent and providing aspiring lawyers with valuable insight into the realities of legal practice. We are especially pleased to welcome Dahab as the inaugural recipient of this award and look forward to supporting her professional development through her work experience with our team.”
Miceal Baden, Head of the Law School and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law
“This new partnership with Lester Aldridge represents an exciting opportunity for our students and highlights the importance of strong links between legal education and professional practice. We are incredibly proud to see Dahab become the first recipient of the Lester Aldridge Family Law Prize. Her achievement reflects both her academic excellence and her enthusiasm for Family Law as a discipline.”
Dahab Souiki, inaugural recipient of the Lester Aldridge Family Law Prize
“I am truly honoured to receive the 2026 Lester Aldridge Family Law Prize and deeply grateful to the University of Roehampton Law faculty and Lester Aldridge for this recognition. I thoroughly enjoyed the Family Law module taught by Cynthia Opoku-Gyamfi and I look forward to the opportunity to gain practical experience and learn from the team at Lester Aldridge.
Family Law was one of my favourite modules, and I believe a lot of that came down to the teaching and support I received. It means a great deal that this recognition came from a module I enjoyed so much.”
The University of Roehampton Law School looks forward to developing this exciting partnership with Lester Aldridge in the years ahead and continuing to create opportunities that support student success, employability, and professional growth.